Pendle News Room

And in Pendle the Government has today – Thursday 27 August - announced a new payment scheme which starts on Tuesday 1st September.

The scheme is for people on low incomes who have tested positive, who need to self-isolate and can’t work from home.

Payments of up to £130 can be made to people on Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council said:

“It’s vital that there is financial help for Pendle people who’ve tested positive and who are on low incomes.

“People who’ve tested positive must not go into work, but those on low incomes will need financial support whilst self-isolating.

“We welcome the new scheme, which is being piloted in areas like Pendle which have had high rates of Covid-19, although we would have liked it to better reflect people’s loss of
income.

“This new financial scheme will need an urgent review,” he added.

Explaining how the new local contact tracing system will work, Councillor Iqbal said:

“If the national Test and Trace service is unable to contact people in Pendle who’ve tested positive, after 24 hours their details will now be passed to the Pendle Council Team who will try and contact people.

“If you are called, we will ask for details of your contacts and update the national tracing system.

“The national Test and Trace service will then contact the people you’ve been in contact with.”

People will be given advice and guidance to help them isolate for the required length of time and how to get help and support.

Deputy Leader, Councillor David Whipp said:

“Pendle has had one of the highest rates of infection in the country in recent weeks.

“Although the rate of infection and the percentage of people testing positive is coming down, we are not complacent,” he stated.

“Contact tracing is vitally important locally, helping us to control the spread of the virus in our area.

If anyone is unsure and wants to check if a call from Pendle Contact Tracing is genuine they can call the Pendle Council team on 01282 661053 and there are more details on
www.pendle.gov.uk/trackandtrace

Councillor Whipp added:

“We have been calling for a four point plan for Pendle which involves:

1. Getting boots on the ground, including mobilising community volunteers, swabbers, loggers and our Environmental Health Officers

2. More testing and quick results

3. Effective local tracing, and

4. Financial support for those required to isolate.

“All the elements are now in place to implement our plan and pilot a fresh approach to stamp out Covid-19 in our borough.

“We hope to be able to couple this with a relaxation of restrictions for all of Pendle in due course and are asking for that from national agencies.

“We welcome the new support and other new weapons we have in our armoury to win this battle,” he said.

Councillor Iqbal stated:

“We are urging everyone to please continue to follow the local measures in place to bring the down the percentage of people testing positive.

“We want to thank everyone for doing their bit to keep everyone safe.

“The message is get tested – let’s do it for Pendle!”

Details of how to get a test, including community drop in sites, are on Pendle Council’s website www.pendle.gov.uk/coronavirus  along with guidance and rules for Pendle.

Councillor Iqbal added: “I know it’s tough for everyone at the moment, but it’s important that we continue to follow the rules which are in place to stop the virus spreading.

“It’s vital that people do not mix with other households either at home or in indoor venues like bars, pubs and restaurants.

“And please get tested - even if you don’t have any symptoms.”

 The new payment scheme for people self-isolating in the highest risk areas for Covid-19 is starting first in Pendle, Blackburn with Darwen and Oldham.