Kate Hollern MP
BLACKBURN MP Kate Hollern has backed public health experts view that East Lancashire is unlikely to be moved out of the toughest coronavirus restrictions when the new rules are announced. The government is now expected to announce the new tiering arrangements for England tomorrow after finalising them later today. Already Blackburn with Darwen s public health director Professor Dominic Harrison and his Lancashire counterpart Dr. Sakthi Karunanithi have said the county is unlikely to be moved out of tier three into tier two. Labour local government spokeswoman Mrs Hollern said: The infection rate in Blackburn fell dramatically over the lockdown period which is testament to the sheer hard work of the vast majority in sticking to the rules. Sadly we re not there yet: the infection rate is still higher than the national average, so I accept Lancashire is unlikely to move across to tier two. I am hopeful that if the downward trend continues Blackburn will be in
HEALTH bosses and politicians expect East Lancashire to remain in the tightest coronavirus restrictions in the run up to Christmas. They see little chance of ministers tomorrow moving the area out of the very high alert tier three into the more relaxed tier two allowing more household mixing and pubs and restaurants to reopen for meals. But they were uncertain whether the county would be split between tiers. Blackburn with Darwen Council’s public health director Professor Dominic Harrison said: “I expect most or all of East Lancashire to be in tier three along with central Lancashire. “There is a possibility following the decision to split Hertfordshire between tiers they may do the same in Lancashire. We wait with baited breath.