Over 30 council workers absent due to Covid-19
13 BOROUGH EMPLOYEES STILL SHIELDING AND UNABLE TO WORK
MORE than 30 council workers in East Staffordshire took time off work due to coronavirus, new figures have revealed.
East Staffordshire Borough Council will reveal to its cabinet members next week the authority had a total of 24 seven-to-14-day absences due to employees or their family members reporting Covid-19 symptoms.
The council says all 24 have returned to work, but another 13 people are off - and unable to work from home - due to underlying health conditions or being aged above 70.
The council has 296 directlyemployed workers, including casual staff.
A spokesman for the council said: “The council has had a total of 24 absences (eight per cent of the workforce) due to employees, or their family members, reporting COVID19 symptoms. These employees have now all returned to work.
“Thirteen people (four per cent of the workforce) currently remain off work and not able to homework, as shielded due to underlying health conditions or being over 70 years old, including four casual workers.
“The council was quick to adjust services in response to the coronavirus, with the majority of office staff working from home since March 18, to help protect both staff and the public, and ensure a continuation of service provision.”
Cabinet members will also hear next week an update on the response to the crisis in East Staffordshire by the council and its partners.
A report outlines what the council has been doing to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus - namely continuing with virtual meetings and providing grants to businesses.
It has also offered a council tax reduction that will see more than 2,000 people entitled to a reduction of up to £150. And the authority has extended the Discretionary Grant Fund.
Grants totalling £420,000 have already been awarded to 42 businesses.
A total of 1,883 small business and retail, hospitality and leisure grants, totalling £22.08 million, had been issued to taxpayers as of June 26.
“Retail discount relief” of £19.75 million has been handed to 747 businesses, as well as £263,468 of “nursery discount relief” to 21 nurseries.
Spokesperson