Twenty-two Lancashire Police officers self-isolate after being exposed to COVID-19

Nine officers are understood to have been exposed to the disease after gathering on a refreshment break to celebrate a colleague's retirement from the force.

Three days later, one of the officers developed symptoms and tested positive on July 21.

The nine officers who attended the gathering then came into contact with a further 13 officers during their duties, forcing all 22 into self-isolation.

Lancashire Police said the officers exposed to the virus are based in Blackburn, but it said the temporary loss of 22 officers will not impact its policing operations in the area.

A police spokesman said: "We can confirm some police officers and staff based in Blackburn are self-isolating after a colleague tested positive for COVID-19.

"An officer developed symptoms and was tested on July 21.

"Rigorous contact tracing was put into place which has resulted in a total of 22 officers and staff self-isolating.

"Of these, 13 are as a result of contact through routine operational duties and a further nine are through contact where some officers had come together during their break on Saturday, July 18, to mark the retirement of a colleague.

"All the affected staff have been working from home whilst self-isolating.

"These staff will progressively return to work depending on when the contact with the affected officer took place.

"At this time, no other officers or staff who are self-isolating are showing symptoms and no other positive test results have been received."

ACC Peter Lawson added: "We take the health of both our officers and the communities we serve extremely seriously.

"As soon as we were notified by an officer that they had tested positive for COVID-19 we immediately started tracing their contacts and requiring them to self-isolate.

"I can reassure people that we continue to meet all our minimum staffing levels and there will be no effect on operational policing in the county."