ON Wednesday, amidst the media frenzy over Blackburn with Darwen's potential to head for a local lockdown, columnist Hamzah Mahmud wrote how the descending of cameramen upon Whalley Range as if it were the epicentre of all things coronavirus, was problematic in itself.

He said Asians are testing positive so they are responsible, and surely, if Asians are being tested they are following advice, which is ‘please get tested’, leading to the counter-argument that other communities are NOT testing themselves.

We went down to Whalley Range and Bastwell to find out for ourselves just how people were feeling about the current situation, and whether it had created feelings of isolation or worry.

Pharmacist Riaz Hinglotwala who has a chemist on Randal Street, said despite not living in the Whalley Range/Bastwell area himself, the new measures and the fact numbers are increasing in South Asian communities affects everyone.

He said: "We are only a third of what Leicester was, and the council is doing the right thing.

"The thing is, the higher the density of the population the higher the numbers.

"And if they open more testing centres then the numbers are going to go up.

"Generally people in the Asian community are going to get tested, that's why I feel there has been an increase in the positive testing

"If businesses have to lockdown again then there will be issues though. The help has been there from the government for businesses and families, but it's going to stop somewhere; they can't keep giving out grants like they have been doing."

Centre manager at Bangor Street Community Centre, Iqbal Bhai said he hopes this current situation will not cause racial tensions between communities as he feels the South Asian community have been targeted.

He said: "We aren't very happy about the way we have been targeted in the media as I think we've been singled out.

"I can only go by my experiences with the measures but the shops have been really fantastic and have done as much to control it as they can.

"I've just been to the mosque and everyone is following guidelines - we can't do much more than that. We are in there for literally five or 10 minutes, only to pray, and then we leave.

"I think a lot of older people within our community feel victimised as they are abiding by all the measures, but some of the younger ones need educating more - they hang around outside in groups and we tell them to move on, but they don't think it affects them..

"But if we have to go into local lockdown it will be challenging as the community itself will feel isolated, and with Eid coming up it will be another blow as we were just getting back to some kind of normality."

Councillor Hussain Akhtar, who represents Shear Brow and Corporation Park Ward on Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council said action is being undertaken as testing sites and council services are still operating in line with social distancing measures to limit spread and promote safety.

He said: "As you can understand with the increase of risk to the borough of Blackburn with Darwen from Covid-19, many elected members such as myself, with the residents and businesses that make up our area, are all incredibly concerned about our future stability in the next couple of weeks.

"Much of this from data suggests that our BAME community are at most risk , which has affected and worried our communities the hardest.

"Young people and the elderly are not discriminated, as this pandemic affects us all.

"We as a council have devised a plan that works with our community establishments such as the faith committee, to enforce and divert any sudden risk, which undoubtedly has to be achieved by enforcing our message to stay at home and help save lives.

"This is an upsetting prospect for many as Eid is not too far off and we have had pushes from event and hospitality industries to allow gathering for such promised special occasions.

"Moreover, we have to unite and aim to achieve the same target, that we can lower infection cases, and ease concerns of our residents.

"But we can only do this by staying assertive and working with our community groups.

"Community leadership with support from the council has facilitated this with a strong stride.

"Our council leadership and use of social media has allowed everyone to take the matter seriously, an influx of residents in my Shear Brow Ward as well as many others have been wearing masks, limiting social gatherings and isolating correctly if they have symptoms.

"I feel as we all unite we will tackle the pandemic, as communities we have always been strong and tough and in the most uncertain of times.

"I hope in the coming weeks you can notice and appreciate the changes and impact we have made on dealing with this pandemic."