Plea for patience issued by county council

Health officials in Staffordshire are issuing a plea for residents to remain patient and to keep following all the rules and getting tested regularly.

Cases are falling locally but remain high with the new highly-transmissible South African variant of Covid-19 being identified in Staffordshire.

With a coronavirus update from PM, Boris Johnson expected sometime on Monday, residents are being asked to remain vigilant and continue sticking to all the lockdown rules in place.

People should also keep getting tested if they need to be out and about during lockdown, especially if they live in Stafford borough or a hotspot area.

Dr Johnny McMahon Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said:

“Cases continue to fall, which is positive news. However, we plead with Staffordshire residents to be patient.

“Everyone, included people who have had the first vaccination, should remain highly vigilant.

“As the weather begins to brighten don’t be tempted to let your guard down, we have all worked hard and made sacrifices, but the risk is still very real. We must stick together, show resolve and not throw all our hard work away now.

“This means sticking to the rules and getting tested if you must leave the house, especially if you work or live in Stafford borough or a hotspot area.

“Of course, we are looking forward to some restrictions being eased but we must not underestimate how quickly things can change, especially with new strains of the virus being identified on our doorstep.”

Community testing is available in the Moorlands at Biddulph Valley leisure centre and Brough park leisure centre although no covid hotspots have been identified in the district.