Plea for residents to get tested after local Covid cases rise

Blackburn with Darwen residents are being urged to take a Covid test following a rise in cases of Covid-19.

The rise is linked, in part, to cases of the variant first identified in India.

Following the identification of cases of this Variant of Concern, mainly in Shear Brow & Corporation Park and the surrounding areas, Blackburn with Darwen Council has been working closely with Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace to develop a programme of additional PCR testing and enhanced contact tracing for these areas.

From Tuesday, 18 May, there will be enhanced COVID-19 testing – known as surge testing – for anyone living, working or going to school in these postcode areas:

• BB1 6**
• BB1 7**
• BB1 8**
• and BB2 6**

Positive samples will then be sent for analysis at a laboratory to find out if there are any more cases of the variant in the area.

The aim of the enhanced testing programme is to understand whether the variant first identified in India has spread further in the community.

People in these areas are encouraged to take a PCR test over the next two weeks starting from Tuesday 18 May.

Anyone who has symptoms of Coronavirus should stay at home and book a free test online or by phone, so they can be tested at a testing site or have a testing kit sent to their home.

Tests can be booked on this link: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

People who do not have symptoms can collect PCR test kits by visiting one of the following community hubs from Tuesday 18 May:

• Revidge Fold United Reform Church, Shear Brow BB1 8DS (Mon to Fri 8am–6.30pm and Sat & Sun 10am–4pm)
• Corporation Park main entrance, Preston New Road BB2 6AH (Mon to Fri 8am–6.30pm and Sat & Sun 10am–4pm)
• Bangor Street Community Centre, Norwich Street BB1 6NZ (Mon to Fri 8am–6.30pm and Sat & Sun 10am–4pm)

From these locations people can collect PCR tests for themselves and their household/neighbours, take them home, carry out the tests and then return them to the same place they collected them, for sending to the lab for testing.

People will only need to take one test each, and we urge those who test positive to self-isolate with everyone in their home to stop the spread of the virus.

Support is available to people who have to self-isolate due to Covid-19, including financial support. You can find out more at www.blackburn.gov.uk/coronavirus/support-residents

Council engagement teams will also be out and about from Tuesday, encouraging people in the areas most affected by the Indian variant to get tested, and answering any questions about surge testing.

Staff will be on hand to speak with people about how to complete their test, explaining why surge testing is important, asking people for their help and support by encouraging their wider family and friendship networks to come forward and take tests too, and offering reassurance about the new variant.

As well as getting tested it is also vital that everyone in Blackburn with Darwen continues to follow the guidelines and the ‘Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air’ rules – as this is the most effective way to control the spread of all Covid-19 variants.

Joint statement from Council Leader Coun Mohammed Khan CBE, Chief Executive Denise Park, and Director of Public Health Prof Dominic Harrison said:

We don’t want people living in these areas to worry. Although we have seen a spike in cases of the variant first identified in India, we have no evidence to suggest that it can make you more ill or that it is more deadly.

However, we do know that it is spreading, and that is why we are introducing this surge testing programme in the wards where cases are highest.

Our priorities here are to protect people, to keep Blackburn with Darwen safe as restrictions are easing, and also to avoid Blackburn with Darwen going into a further lockdown as we know that no one wants that.

By identifying cases of this variant, we can improve our understanding of how it spreads and work on how to shut down transmission.

A number of cases of the Covid-19 variant first identified in India have been detected across the North West – in Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton and Sefton – as well as in London. One week ago, it was classified as a ‘Variant of Concern’, however there is currently no evidence that it causes more severe illness, is more deadly or makes the current vaccines any less effective. Public Health England is currently working to understand this variant better, and surge testing in Blackburn with Darwen will support this.

The advice to everyone in Blackburn with Darwen is to be cautious of this rise in cases locally, and continue to follow the government guidance, particularly as we move to Step 3 of the government’s roadmap on Monday 17 May.

Everyone living in other parts of the borough is encouraged to take up the free rapid testing offer regularly.

The message is to ‘Test and Go’ before going out to work, visit the shops, hairdressers, hospitality and other businesses and services.

Find out more about where you can get a rapid test in person, or pick up rapid test kits so you can test at home – visit www.blackburn.gov.uk/get-a-test.

Responding to the latest Government update which referenced Blackburn with Darwen, Council Leader Mohammed Khan CBE said:

We are totally against any sort of local lockdown here. We are now waiting to hear the detail of what extra support we will get next week as we move along the roadmap. We will work with Government to make sure our communities get the practical help they need and deserve as well as continuing to push for more vaccinations and testing to curb our rising cases.

We are really concerned about our younger generation and would ask that people continue to be very careful as they go about their lives and follow all the advice.