BLACKBURN with Darwen Council has confirmed the coronavirus vaccine will NOT be offered to all over-18s in the borough, despite earlier reports. The BBC and Press Association both reported today that the vaccine rollout would be sped up in the borough which has rising cases of Covid, linked to the Indian variant which is concerning scientists. But the council said this evening that although extra clinics will be offered next week, vaccines at the clinics will not be widely available to over 18s. A spokesperson said: Contrary to earlier social media and news reporting, vaccines at the clinics will not be widely available to over 18s.
Professor Dominic Harrison (inset) with Blackburn Cathedral in the background A PUBLIC health director has warned East Lancashire residents to keep following the coronavirus rules as infection rates in three boroughs continue to rise. Blackburn with Darwen Council s Professor Dominic Harrison spoke out as the latest figures showed the number of Covid-19 cases increased in that borough, Burnley and Hyndburn which had the highest level in the country. He said that with the next step of lockdown easing scheduled for May 17 residents must not get complacent. While the general trend has seen Covid case rates falling in Blackburn with Darwen the latest data shows the borough’s positive cases jumping to 52.1 per 100k – meaning the rate doubled over the last nine days of April.
A POTENTIALLY dangerous new Indian variant of coronavirus has been found in Blackburn with Darwen borough. Cases of the same strain have also been identified in Blackpool and an unidentified town in the Lancashire County Council area. They are among three cases found in England as the government put India on the international travel ‘red list’. This means that British nationals and those with UK residence rights must quarantine in a government-approved hotel on arrival and all other travellers are banned from entry. Confirming the Blackburn with Darwen case, the borough’s public health director Professor Dominic Harrison welcomed India being added to the red list but said: “It is a little late.
PUBLIC health experts have issued their advice ahead of the start of Ramadan this year. Ramadan is the Islamic holy month, in which Muslims fast during daylight hours, that starts this year on April 12 or 13 and ends on Eid day in mid May. Now, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has said that its basic dietary advice for Ramadan is to keep it simple and similar to a normal everyday diet, outside of fasting hours, including a balance of fruit and vegetables and plenty of fluids. Blackburn with Darwen’s director of public health Professor Dominic Harrison said: Ramadan fasting is a very important part of the Islamic faith and many of our Muslim residents will be fasting during the next month or so.