Stricter COVID guidance for Lancashire announced
The health secretary's said all of Lancashire and Greater Manchester will also get more resources for local health teams
Matt Hancocks's announced that people in Lancashire should "minimise essential travel" amid rising COVID rates in the North West.
The government has announced both regions will be given a "strengthened package of support" which means stricter advice on travel and who we can meet with as well as more resources for local health teams.
It's in a bid to tackle rising COVID-19 infection rates which have continued to increase in the North West.
The latest stats show on average, across the region, 111.5 people per 100,000 people now have the virus but that number is as high as 516.4 in Blackburn with Darwen.
The average case rate for England is 40.6 infections per 100,000 people.
Additionally, of the top 10 areas in the country worst affected by COVID, all 10 are in the North West, they are:
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Bolton
- Rossendale
- Hyndburn
- Burnley
- Ribble Valley
- Manchester
- South Ribble
- Salford
- Bury
Whilst there will be no change to the law, the government is now advising people not to meet indoors where possible, to stay local and to cut down on non-essential contact.
There will also be more resources given to local vaccine and test and trace teams.
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