COMMUNITY leaders in Barrow have asked the Government to impose new Covid-19 restrictions to bring the area in line with measures taken in the North East and Merseyside.

The request, which covers the Barrow Borough Council area, comes as the Covid-19 infection rate continues to accelerate and hospitalisations mount.

The latest data shows the infection rate increasing to 200 per 100,000 and 54 Covid-19 patients in Furness General Hospital, putting it in the top 15 in England.

Leaders hope that by acting now the spread of the virus can be slowed, even stricter local lockdown laws avoided, and lives saved.

A total of 82 people in Barrow have died as a result of the virus this year.

Among a range of measures, the new restrictions would make it illegal to mix with people you do not live with in your home, garden or other indoor setting and recommend limitations on non-essential travel. Fines could be imposed for those who fail to comply. Exceptions would apply.

Cllr Peter Thornton, acting chair of the Area Outbreak Board and deputy leader of Cumbria County Council, said: “It was the unanimous view of the board and local political leaders that we need to act now and make this request to Government.

"The infection rate is rising at an alarming speed and we are now in equivalent position to where we were in March.

"This is not scaremongering. It’s putting Barrow, its people and its economy, first and we need the whole community come together to make the difference. If we all pull together now we may be able to avoid a full lockdown in the future”

Councillor Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Borough Council, said: "All of us across Barrow now face the most serious situation possible.

"More than 80 residents across Barrow have already lost their lives to this vicious virus since March. Coronavirus cases are soaring through our communities, putting more lives at stake.

"We absolutely must take decisive action to keep everyone safe and break the rise in infections so that we can prevent a full lockdown. Your efforts will protect not just yourselves but your loved ones and others around you.

"This is difficult and not at all what any of us wanted. But taking precautions now will pay off in the long run so life can return to normal as quickly as possible."

Simon Fell, the MP for Barrow and Furness, said: “The number of coronavirus cases in our community continues to rise at an alarming rate. With that comes the steady drumbeat of more hospitalisations and the real and present danger of more deaths.

“As a community we have a simple choice: act now to save lives and turn this around, or face a stricter lockdown that could harm our local economy. We have days to do this, not weeks. For the good of the whole community, please stick to new guidance that comes into force.”

The decision to ask for new legal restrictions follows additional public health advice issued for Barrow on September 17 asking people to limit groups of six to people from no more than two households. Despite the strengthened advice new infections have continued to increase.