‘Don’t let your guard down’
COUNCIL WANTS PEOPLE TO STICK TO RULES AS IT DRAWS UP SECOND LOCKDOWN PLAN
PLANS are in place for Staffordshire should the county go into a second lockdown like Leicester has had to do.
Staffordshire County Council has developed a Covid-19 Local Outbreak Control Plan, which would see it work with Public Health England, the NHS and district and borough councils to manage any outbreaks of coronavirus.
If there was to be a second lockdown, it would mean the partial closure of schools again and the closure of non-essential workplaces and businesses such as pubs, restaurants and hairdressers.
Key areas of focus include what should happen in schools, care homes, businesses, community settings and hard-to-reach communities such as the homeless.
It comes as parts of Leicester were forced into a second lockdown after seeing a rise in cases there.
Alan White, Staffordshire’s deputy leader and cabinet member for health, care and wellbeing, said: “As part of our Covid-19 Local Control Plan, we are monitoring cases on a daily basis to ensure we are in a position to mobilise efforts to identify any outbreaks and do everything we can to prevent the spread of Covid19. Throughout this pandemic, Staffordshire has pulled together like never before and our efforts can’t stop now. We are making it clear to people that if they want to protect themselves, their families and their communities they need to stick to the rules.
“This is not the time to let our guard down.”
As further restrictions were lifted last weekend, including allowing pubs, hairdressers and restaurants to reopen, the council’s plans aim to swiftly identify, contain and stop any outbreaks across the county. Residents are being asked to do their part by:
■ Ensuring that they wash their hands regularly;
■ Sticking to the two-metre social distancing rule where possible, or one metre-plus where extra safety measures are in place, such as pubs;
■ Self-isolating for seven days and booking a test if they have symptoms.
Anyone contacted by the NHS Test and Trace Service because they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive must self-isolate for 14 days, whether they have symptoms or not. People are advised to look out for the call from 0300 013 5000