Non-home workers urged to get tested

MORE than 400 people across Staffordshire have tested positive for coronavirus in 24 hours, figures have revealed.

In total, 15 people in the county have died in the last 24 hours up to 4.35pm on Wednesday, all within 28 days of receiving a positive test result for Covid.

It comes as leaders of Staffordshire County Council and the borough and district councils have joined forces to appeal for all workers who cannot work from home to book a regular Covid test – as part of the rollout of mass testing of people without symptoms.

With new community testing centres open across the county, council leaders are calling for workers in all places allowed to stay open to make testing part of their regular routine in efforts to identify more people who may unknowingly be carrying the virus and risk spreading it.

Alan White, leader of the county council, said: “The national lockdown means we must stay at home as much as possible. However, we all recognise that some people simply can’t work from home. That is why we are appealing to everyone who is out working in Staffordshire this week to book a test. It is free, quick and has never been easier to book one.”

People in Staffordshire who have to leave their homes during the pandemic can book a Covid test at one of the several centres across the county.

The places are in for Burton at Hillfield House, Stretton, and for Lichfield at Burntwood Leisure Centre, High Street, Chasetown, Burntwood.

A total of 7,079 people in East Staffordshire have now had confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic – a rise of 54 in the 24 hours up to Wednesday.

There has been one more death announced, so the total stands at 297 since the pandemic began. The population of the borough is around 119,754.

A total of 418 new cases were recorded across Staffordshire, and 15 more people have died in the last day across the county.

In South Derbyshire, there have been 43 new cases in 24 hours with the total since the start of the pandemic now standing at 5,344.

There have been no new deaths in South Derbyshire, with the total number remaining at 175.

In North West Leicestershire, there have been 51 new cases, with one new death recorded.

Nationally, as of yesterday, records were broken again with the daily death toll the highest ever at 1,820, and a further 38,905 cases were reported.