‘Please continue to follow the rules’
Community leaders are calling on people to continue abiding by the rules to help keep coronavirus cases surpressed during the two week long Easter holidays
FAMILIES are being urged to follow the latest coronavirus lockdown rules – as overall case rates continue to fall across North Staffordshire.
Sentinel analysis reveals there have been three or fewer cases in 29 out of 63 areas across Stoke-ontrent, Newcastle borough and the Staffordshire Moorlands in the past week.
But the city’s infection rate still remains above the England and West Midlands average.
And the rates are particularly high in Norton, Hanley and Etruria; Longton West; Dresden; Meir North; Florence; Hanford and Trentham West; Meir South and Lightwood; and Newstead and Blurton where there are more than 100 cases per 100,000 population.
Now council leaders are urging people to stay local during the two week Easter holiday – and not break the rules.
Current lockdown rules mean groups of up to six people or two households can now gather in parks and public and private gardens.
City Council leader Abi Brown said: “In a week’s time many local businesses will be able to open again. Breaking the rules over Easter will only put this date in jeopardy.”
Dr Paul Edmondson-jones – Stoke-on-trent’s director of public health – wants people to have a lateral flow test before meeting friends and family over the next two weeks.
He said: “We know many residents will be meeting loved ones outside. If you are, please remember to still socially distance from one another and get tested on your way or the day before.”
Police are also urging people to carry on following the rules. Chief Inspector Mark Barlow said: “We all know how vital it is not to let our guard down.”
The data (right) divides up areas so they have a roughly similar population to each other. They may not match postcodes or council wards.
In some areas, the number of cases in a week is three or fewer so the figures are not published to keep the anonymity of the individuals. These areas show as ‘suppressed’.