Pendle News Room

Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council, said: 

“We have set up a task force with Lancashire County Council, the NHS and other partners to engage with people in our community and get across vital messages to reduce the spread of the virus.

“We are following a plan which will reach people across our community and our Environmental Health team is continuing to visit local businesses to make sure they are COVID-19 Secure.”

The four point plan is to:

1.         Encourage more take up of testing for coronavirus where a person has symptoms

2.         Communicate with everyone in our community about following national safety
            precautions including safe distancing and handwashing

3.         Work with local shops and other businesses to make sure they are Covid-19 Secure

4.         Work with our community leaders to help get vital messages across.

County Councillor Shaun Turner, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Lancashire County Council, said:

"It's really important that everyone takes action and follows the advice to stay safe. This an early warning sign following a recent spike. 

"It can feel like things are getting back to normal, but the risk is still there.

"Please come forward if you’re showing symptoms and get a test.

“By doing this, it helps you to know if you've got Covid and you can protect your families and friends. It also helps to reduce the spread in the community. 

"People need to be clear that this affects all communities, so we all need to play our part and be responsible,” he said.

Rauf Bashir, a community leader for Building Bridges Pendle (pictured), said:

 “We are urging people in Pendle to take action now – the whole community needs to be involved in this effort. 

“If we don’t follow the Government rules and safety advice we run the risk of other restrictions being imposed in Pendle.  

Staying safe advice is on Pendle Council’s website www.pendle.gov.uk/coronavirus and people are being reminded to: 

• Stay at home if you or anyone in your household has any symptoms of Coronavirus 

• Wash your hands regularly using soap and water and carry hand sanitiser when you go out

 • Keep 2m distance from people not in your household 

• Avoid handshakes and embracing when meeting others 

• Wear a face covering in enclosed spaces including shops, supermarkets and public transport, following Government guidelines 

• Avoid or limit large extended family gatherings inside.

Councillor David Whipp, Deputy Leader of Pendle Council added:

 “Whilst the overall number of cases is low, there are signs that the virus is being spread, including between family members who share the same household.

 “We can all protect our family, friends and work colleagues by helping to reduce the spread.

“If you have symptoms of the virus, please get tested so that you can protect yourself, your family and friends and other people in our community,” he stated.

Free tests for anyone with symptoms are being carried out this week at a mobile testing unit at the former fairground site on Carr Road, on the border of Nelson and Barrowford. 

The unit is open daily from 10.30am – 3.30pm up to and including Sunday 19th July and people who’ve booked an appointment can come on foot or by car. 

Testing at the unit is open to people of any age who have symptoms including children aged five and under and babies. 

People need to book a test rather than just turn up and appointments go live around 8.30pm the night before on the Government's coronavirus testing webpage

www.gov.uk/coronavirus 

They can also be booked in the morning for a test on the same day.

Anyone with symptoms must self-isolate for 7 days from the point their symptoms started.

 “If you live with someone with symptoms, you must self-isolate for 14 days from the day their symptoms started, as it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear,” explained Councillor Iqbal.

"And if you have symptoms, it's very important to stay at home, get yourself tested and follow the advice from the NHS Test and Trace service,” he said. 

People can contact NHS 111 on-line for healthcare advice. 

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health for Lancashire, said: "We need your help now to reduce the number of cases.

"With the slight increase in the Covid-19 infection rate in Pendle, it’s really important to stay alert to the risks. We should all do what we can to limit the spread of infection. 

"Please share this advice with your family, friends and work colleagues. It's important that we get the message out and work together to keep our communities safe."