PEOPLE in Barrow are being told that social gatherings should be limited to people from no more than two households at any one time.

In a new effort to prevent a local lockdown in the town, new measures are being brought to prevent social contact to slow the spread of the virus.

Public health leaders say similar measures could be implemented in other parts of the county if the rate of infection continues to increase in these areas.

On top of this new public health advice, additional measures are being advised in hospitals, care homes and schools.

Visitor restrictions are already in place at Furness General Hospital.

And from Monday visiting restrictions will be in place in care homes to minimise risk to vulnerable adults and people living with physical or learning disabilities.

Non-essential visitors to schools will be also be restricted from Monday.

Restrictions on all non-essential visitors to schools will also be in place on Monday.

The new measures have been put in place following the publication of data from the week ending September 11 which showed Barrow had the highest number of new positive cases in Cumbria - 29 - for the second week running, up from zero cases just a few weeks ago.

Considering initial data from the current week as well, the infection rate is now at nearly double the national average, at around 60 per 100,000.

According to Cumbria County Council, Furness General Hospital has also seen an increase in Covid-19 patients with 15 currently receiving treatment.

Local contact tracing information is said to show many of the positive cases are unconnected to one another, prompting the action.

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s director of public health, said: “The number cases in Barrow has risen rapidly in the last 10 days, and in combination with the way we are seeing infection spreading, this is very concerning.

"Barrow is not yet seeing the level of infection in places like Oldham, but without action this is clearly where we are heading.

“The new local action we are taking today is aimed at protecting local people and stopping Barrow having local lockdown measures imposed upon it by Government.

“I strongly encourage people to follow this new advice. The advice will be in place for the next two weeks, after which it will be reviewed. My hope is that it will not be necessary to keep it in place for longer.”

The new guidance was this morning agreed by local political leaders at a meeting of the Local Area Outbreak Board, following recommendations from the multi-agency Health Protection Board.

Councillor Stewart Young, the leader of Cumbria County Council and chair of the Area Outbreak Board, said: “The threat from this virus has not gone away and if we have learnt anything from the last six months it is how quickly infection can spread once it gets hold in an area.

"The signs in the Barrow area are all pointing in the wrong direction.

"It may not look right now that huge numbers of people are being infected, but without action we know where this will end up.

"No one wants to restrict people going about their business if it can be helped, but if people don’t take notice now and follow this new advice I fear that far more restrictive measures will be imposed as has happened elsewhere in the country. I urge people to take note and help keep the community safe.”

Simon Fell, the MP for Barrow: “This action is designed to limit the spread of the virus and protect the most vulnerable people in our community.

"Working together we can limit the spread of this virus, protecting each other by being sensible, careful and cautious.

“The last thing we want is a full local lockdown in Barrow, so I would urge everyone to follow this advice for the good of your friends, family, neighbours and the local community.”

The leader of Barrow Council, Ann Thomson said new measures were necessary.

"The rapid increase in the number of cases here in our borough in such a short amount of time is a serious concern," she said.

"These new measures are absolutely necessary if we are to avoid the level of infections seen in other parts of the country where local lockdowns have been introduced.

"Every single one of us has a part to play in this. Please follow the advice and make sure you are meeting up in groups of six from no more than two households to keep our communities as safe as possible."