Medic demands answers as Blackpool's Covid-19 infection rate continues to grow - and is now one of the worst in the country

Despite the easing of lockdown measures, people are still being diagnosed with Covid-19 on a daily basis – with the number continuing to grow.

For every 100,000 people in Blackpool, some 445.1 people have Covid-19. Nationally, that number is just 268.5.

Victoria Hospital medic Dr Radhakrishna Shanbhag, who is a British Medical Association North West council member, said: “Not only does this mean we’re suffering from a disproportionate amount of serious cases and deaths but also that, as a consequence, gradual lockdown measures may be affected – prolonging the hurt caused to our local economy.

"We need to start asking why.”

Dr Shanbhag said there’s no one answer but said age, with 20 per cent of Blackpool’s population older than 65, may be one factor, while poverty has also been linked to high death rates.

“Covid-19 has shone a light on the health inequalities across the UK,” he added. “What we need now is action to close this gap...”

There are now 620 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the council area of Blackpool, up from 609 yesterday, 602 on Monday, and 590 at the weekend.

Cases in the council area of Lancashire also continue to rise. Today's total of 3,542 is up from 3,521 yesterday. However, tens of thousands more have reported symptoms, while there was a lack of widespread testing for months until recently. Now, anybody over the age of five qualifies for a test.

Some 177 people have now died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus, NHS England figures showed this afternoon.

That's up two from the 175 Covid-19-related deaths verified and reported yesterday. On Friday, the death toll was 166.

No further deaths at Preston and Chorley hospitals, or at hospitals run by the NHS trust in Morecambe Bay, were confirmed, leaving the totals there at 199 and 160 respectively.