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.”
The Covid-19 community testing centres and hotspot areas are as below:
| District / borough | Community testing sites | Hotspot areas |
| Cannock Chase | Chase Leisure Centre, Stafford Road, Cannock, WS11 4AL
(Monday to Sunday) |
Cannock East, Cannock West, Heath Hayes East and Wimblebury, Hednesford Green Heath, Hednesford North, Hednesford South, Norton Canes, Western Springs |
| East Staffordshire | Hillfield House, Hillfield Lane, Burton-upon-Trent DE13 0BW
(Monday to Sunday) |
Anglesey, Branston, Burton, Churnet, Eton Park, Heath, Horninglow, Shobnall, Stapenhill, Tutbury and Outwoods, Winshill |
| Lichfield | Lichfield City FC, Brownsfield Road, Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, WS13 6AY
(Monday to Thursday) Burntwood Leisure Centre, High Street, Chasetown, Burntwood WS7 3XH (Friday to Sunday) |
Boley Park, Boney Hay and Central, Chasetown, Curborough, Fazeley, Longdon |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | Seabridge Centre, Ash Way, Newcastle, ST5 3UB
(Monday to Sunday) Victoria Hall, Liverpool Road, Kidsgrove, ST7 4EL (Mon to Wed and Fri to Sun) |
Silverdale |
| South Staffordshire | Codsall Leisure Centre, Elliots Lane, Codsall, Wolverhampton. WV8 1PG
(Monday to Sunday) |
Cheslyn Hay North and Saredon, Essington, Featherstone and Shareshill, Perton Lakeside, Wombourne South East, Wombourne South West |
| Stafford | Kingston Centre, Fairway, Stafford, ST16 3TW
(Monday to Sunday) The Grosvenor Centre, High Street, Gnosall, ST20 0EX (Monday to Sunday) Eccleshall Community Centre, Shaws Lane, Eccleshall, ST21 6AU (Monday to Sunday) Stone Leisure Centre, Stafford Rd, Stone, ST15 8QW (Monday to Sunday)
|
Barlaston, Doxey and Castletown, Highfields and Western Downs |
| Staffordshire Moorlands | Brough Park Leisure Centre, Brough Park, Leek, ST13 6AT
(Sunday to Thursday)
Biddulph Leisure Centre, Thames Drive, Biddulph, ST8 7HL (Tuesday to Saturday) |
None |
| Tamworth | Tamworth Campus, Croft Street, Tamworth, B79 8AE
(Monday to Friday) Wilnecote Parish Hall, 40 Watling St, Two Gates, Wilnecote, Tamworth B77 5AD (Saturday and Sunday) |
Amington, Belgrave, Castle, Glascote, Stonydelph |
