More young people across the borough need to come forward for testing according to the council's Director of Public Health, Dominic Harrison.

As Blackburn with Darwen became one of the only local authorities to be carrying out more testing than any other area in England, Professor Harrison said it was of paramount importance that more people, especially people under 30, took the test for coronavirus

He said: "In Blackburn with Darwen our testing figures are significantly higher than the national average, which means that local residents have been listening to our appeals.

"But we need more to get tested even if they have no symptoms.

"We are especially urging young people, the under 30s, to come forward, as they are more likely to be asymptomatic, i.e. experiencing no symptoms.

"Also those who may have been feeling ill and had minor viral symptoms not identified as the main Covid-19 symptoms by the Government should come forward, as well as anyone who has already been tested but may have been feeling unwell recently.

"The more people we test, the better our understanding of where the virus is in the borough."​

Arranging a test for coronavirus in Blackburn with Darwen is straight forward.

Anyone wishing to do so can request a home kit to be posted out to their address, or attend the borough’s mobile testing facility or the site outside Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The mobile testing unit currently at Witton Park Academy will remain on site this weekend, but it will be moving to Audley Sport Centre from Monday August 3.

The Audley unit will operate from 11am-6pm seven days a week.

Sunday August 2 will be the last day it will operate at Witton.

The council is also exploring other sites in the borough for mobile units.

Mo Congress, a 29-year-old charity worker from Blackburn, agrees that getting tested is an important way to control the spread of the virus locally.

Mo said: "I have unfortunately lost loved ones to the virus and saw first-hand how gruelling the whole process was.

"As hospital visits weren’t allowed, we couldn’t even say goodbye in person which was very difficult.

"I’ve got myself tested for the virus, and thankfully got a negative result.

"Please protect vulnerable family members by getting yourself tested. It’s easy to arrange and doesn’t take long at all."

Councillor Mohammed Khan, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, added: "We are very grateful to everyone who has got themselves tested, and we need to keep up the momentum of testing to get a grip on the virus."