Blackburn & Darwen Council taking steps to avoid a local lockdown

[RomeoCharlie71]

Sky News reporting in the last half hour or so that Blackburn Council, with Darwen Council, are taking preventative steps to avoid a "local lockdown".

Coronavirus: Blackburn with Darwen Council announces new measures to avoid being next local lockdown area

The authority says there is a very real possibility it could follow Leicester and that will only be avoided "if we work together".

news.sky.com

The Lancashire council said only two people are now allowed to visit another person at home and face coverings should be worn in public with immediate effect.

It has also urged anyone to get tested for COVID-19 - even if they have no symptoms.

Elsewhere in England, face coverings are still optional in some public places like shops - although they will become mandatory on Friday 24 July - and groups of six can meet outside at a friend's home in their garden.

Not sure that this will be effective - and are legalities in place for councils to impose restrictions such as these without approval from Parliament?

 

[Huntergreed]

Sky News reporting in the last half hour or so that Blackburn Coucil, with Darwen Council, are taking preventative steps to avoid a "local lockdown".

Coronavirus: Blackburn with Darwen Council announces new measures to avoid being next local lockdown area

The authority says there is a very real possibility it could follow Leicester and that will only be avoided "if we work together".

news.sky.com

Not sure that this will be effective - and are legalities in place for councils to impose restrictions such as these without approval from Parliament?

I didn’t think councils could impose lockdowns without the supervision and approval of Hancock, though at this point they seem to simply rewrite the rules to suit themselves so who knows.

 

[BJames]

I didn’t think councils could impose lockdowns without the supervision and approval of Hancock, though at this point they seem to simply rewrite the rules to suit themselves so who knows.

It's possible they don't have the power themselves to do this but simply requesting Hancock to initiate a local lockdown to reduce transmission perhaps - he's unlikely to say no if the transmission rates are high enough or continually rising.

 

[John Hunt]

Beeb is also running the story

Coronavirus: Blackburn with Darwen brings in new measures

Residents face tougher limits on visitors and are being urged to bump elbows instead of hugging.

www.bbc.co.uk

Residents are being told to wear cloth face coverings in all enclosed public spaces, including workplaces, libraries, museums, health centres and hair and beauty salons.

Blackburn with Darwen's public health director, Prof Dominic Harrison, also called for people only to bump elbows with anyone outside their immediate family.

He said public protection advice for small shops was being stepped up to ensure social distancing was being observed.

Targeted testing is taking place in the borough, and residents have been told they do not need to have symptoms to be tested.

Prof Harrison said: "These steps will help and we are appealing to everyone in Blackburn with Darwen to follow them to protect themselves and their loved ones.

"If we don't, a local lockdown, like in Leicester, becomes a very real possibility."

[unquote]

 

[DelayRepay]

Here is the link. Despite the strange URL this appears to be the official council newsletter: https://theshuttle.org.uk/introducing-new-local-measures-to-control-virus-spread/

Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health has today announced new local measures to help control the spread of Coronavirus.

These measures, specific to Blackburn with Darwen, are aimed at helping avoid a local lockdown by getting a grip on the rise in cases of the virus.

From today, and for the next month, Dominic Harrison recommends everyone in the borough follows these five measures:

...

Note that they are recommending people follow these measures and elsewhere I have seen them referred to as guidelines. So in my view, this has no legal force, but people are recommended to follow the steps in order to avoid the need for a tighter lockdown which, as per Leicester, is likely to be legally enforceable.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Here is the link. Despite the strange URL this appears to be the official council newsletter: https://theshuttle.org.uk/introducing-new-local-measures-to-control-virus-spread/



Note that they are recommending people follow these measures and elsewhere I have seen them referred to as guidelines. So in my view, this has no legal force, but people are recommended to follow the steps in order to avoid the need for a tighter lockdown which, as per Leicester, is likely to be legally enforceable.

Thanks for that.

Sky taking their own twist on the story by saying "face coverings should be worn in public with immediate effect", whereas the council recommend the "wearing cloth face coverings in all enclosed public spaces" in that case; much as I suspected.

 

[island]

Not sure that this will be effective - and are legalities in place for councils to impose restrictions such as these without approval from Parliament?

I didn’t think councils could impose lockdowns without the supervision and approval of Hancock, though at this point they seem to simply rewrite the rules to suit themselves so who knows.

Councils have no power in the matter to make anything stronger than recommendations.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Councils have no power in the matter to make anything stronger than recommendations.

No they don't but there being proactive and honest with local population to front run the issue and hopefully head it off before a full local lockdown is imposed. Local councils are best placed to manage outbreaks so they should be given all the tools and resources to do this.

 

[johnnychips]

Agreed. I am on my local council’s email list - Doncaster - not sure why as I have since moved. But every Friday I get an email telling me what’s going on. There was a daft rumour recently that Doncaster was suddenly going to be put in a local lockdown. The Head of Health successfully explained the figures and why there seemed to be a sudden spike in Doncaster on that particular week. Politicians beIng honest? Maybe they are just putting objective facts forwards instead of listening to all the Karen’s on FB. Or perhaps some councils are so sick of Karen they agree with her to just shut her up.
DMBC - Top lads.