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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Coronavirus: Blackburn and Luton 'areas of intervention' | Coronavirus: Blackburn and Luton 'areas of intervention' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Residents in Luton and Blackburn have been told lockdown measures set to be eased this weekend will not be lifted in the towns. | Residents in Luton and Blackburn have been told lockdown measures set to be eased this weekend will not be lifted in the towns. |
| Public Health England (PHE) data released on Thursday showed both had been marked as "areas for intervention" due to a spike in cases. | Public Health England (PHE) data released on Thursday showed both had been marked as "areas for intervention" due to a spike in cases. |
| Leaders of both town councils said they would postpone the planned lifting of certain restrictions. | |
| Gyms and leisure centres in the rest of England are due to re-open on Saturday. | Gyms and leisure centres in the rest of England are due to re-open on Saturday. |
| The leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council said it had already decided to keep leisure facilities closed. | The leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council said it had already decided to keep leisure facilities closed. |
| Health officials in the Lancashire town had said a phased lockdown could happen if the virus rise was not halted by Monday. | Health officials in the Lancashire town had said a phased lockdown could happen if the virus rise was not halted by Monday. |
| Council leader Mohammed Khan said: "We feel that accelerating our control measures in this way will assist us to move out of having higher Covid-19 rates even faster- we are grateful for the government's help in our local plans on this" | Council leader Mohammed Khan said: "We feel that accelerating our control measures in this way will assist us to move out of having higher Covid-19 rates even faster- we are grateful for the government's help in our local plans on this" |
| Mr Khan added that the decision to delay the reopening of council leisure facilities would run alongside new "localised prevention measures". | |
| "We feel that accelerating our control measures in this way will assist us to move out of having higher Covid rates even faster - we are grateful for the government's help in our local plans on this," he said. | |
| The steps being taken in Blackburn and Luton should come as no surprise - there has been growing concern about the rising number of cases in each area. | |
| But these are still relatively low levels of infection - Leicester had twice the rate of Blackburn at the point a local lockdown was announced there. | |
| And we should expect to see more of this sort of thing in the coming months. | |
| The widespread availability of testing means in the fight against the virus authorities should be able to spot local flare-ups early and take action to prevent them spiralling out of control. Similar measures are being taken in other parts of Europe. | |
| It is short-term pain for long-term gain. | |
| Luton council leader Hazel Simmons said: "The safety of the public is the priority for us. Not opening the the gyms is part of our ongoing work to tackle coronavirus. | |
| "Better not to open or delay opening than open and then having to close. | |
| "Fighting coronavirus is everyone's responsibility. Too many families and friends have lost loved ones and we must do everything we can to ensure more lives aren't wasted unnecessarily. | |
| "There has been too much heartache in the town for us to risk further anguish, pain and suffering." | |
| Earlier, Luton Borough Council sent residents in certain postcode areas an "urgent message" urging them to get tested for coronavirus due to a rise in cases in the town. | Earlier, Luton Borough Council sent residents in certain postcode areas an "urgent message" urging them to get tested for coronavirus due to a rise in cases in the town. |
| The National Covid-19 Surveillance Report said an area of intervention was one "where there is divergence from the measures in place in the rest of England". | The National Covid-19 Surveillance Report said an area of intervention was one "where there is divergence from the measures in place in the rest of England". |
| It said these areas have a "detailed action plan in place" because of "the significance of the spread" of coronavirus. | It said these areas have a "detailed action plan in place" because of "the significance of the spread" of coronavirus. |
| The report said Leicester and nearby Oadby and Wigston continued to be areas of intervention. | The report said Leicester and nearby Oadby and Wigston continued to be areas of intervention. |
| Meanwhile Pendle, near Blackburn, has been described as an area of enhanced support, while Calderdale, Northampton and Rotherham have become "areas of concern". | Meanwhile Pendle, near Blackburn, has been described as an area of enhanced support, while Calderdale, Northampton and Rotherham have become "areas of concern". |
| NHS Test and Trace chief Baroness Dido Harding told the BBC there were still concerns surrounding northern towns including Blackburn, Bradford and Leicester. | |
| She said Bradford had been in the "enhanced support" category - one level below an area of intervention. | |
| A drop in cases saw its alert level lowered to an "area of concern", she added. | |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |