Posted on Friday 5th March 2021
Health chiefs at the county council are confident that the people of Staffordshire will do the right thing and demonstrate caution as the first easing of lockdown rules come into place on Monday.
After the weekend Staffordshire schools will open, with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed. Meeting up socially outdoors with one other person will be permitted and people in care homes will also be allowed one regular visitor.
Residents are being asked to remain cautious and not to be tempted to stretch the new rules that come into place as the risk in Staffordshire still remains high.
Cases continue to fall across the county but are still much higher than the England average.
Teachers, parents and secondary school children are being encouraged to get regularly tested for Covid alongside other people who need to be out and about, especially if they live in a hotspot area.
Dr Johnny McMahon Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said:
“With schools returning on Monday alongside other freedoms being introduced it is up to all of us to show good judgement, understand the risk to health is still significant and ultimately do the right thing and not mess this up.
“I am confident that Staffordshire people realise the precarious nature of the situation we are in and will do the right thing.
“We all need to follow the letter and the spirit of all the new rules that come into place, as this is what will lead us out of lockdown.”
The Covid-19 community testing centres and hotspot areas are as below:
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District / borough
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Community testing sites
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Hotspot areas
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Cannock Chase
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Chase Leisure Centre, Stafford Road, Cannock, WS11 4AL
(Monday to Sunday)
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Cannock West
|
|
East Staffordshire
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Hillfield House, Hillfield Lane, Burton-upon-Trent, DE13 0BW
(Monday to Sunday)
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Abbey, Anglesey, Branston, Burton, Eton Park, Shobnall, Stapenhill
|
|
Lichfield
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Open House, Cherry Close, Burntwood, WS7 4RJ
(Monday, Tuesday and Sunday)
Lichfield City FC, Brownsfield Road, Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, WS13 6AY
(Wednesday to Saturday)
|
Chasetown
|
|
Newcastle-under-Lyme
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Seabridge Centre, Ash Way, Newcastle, ST5 3UB
(Monday to Sunday)
Victoria Hall, Liverpool Road, Kidsgrove, ST7 4EL
(Monday to Sunday)
|
Cross Heath, Knutton
|
|
South Staffordshire
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Wombourne Library, Church Rd, Wombourne, Wolverhampton, WV5 9EZ
(Monday to Sunday)
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Bilbrook, Cheslyn Hay South
|
|
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)
|
Forebridge, Holmcroft
|
|
Staffordshire Moorlands
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Brough Park Leisure Centre, Brough Park, Leek, ST13 6AT
(Sunday to Thursday)
Biddulph Leisure Centre, Thames Drive, Biddulph, ST8 7HL
(Tuesday to Saturday)
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None
|
|
Tamworth
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Ankerside Shopping Centre, Unit 30 George Street, Tamworth, B79 7LG
(Monday to Sunday)
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Amington, Belgrave, Castle, Glascote, Stonydelph
|
Staffordshire residents are now able to walk in to one of our community testing sites to get a rapid Covid-19 test. Walk ins are subject to availability at each individual site - to secure a slot, booking on our community testing sites page is still recommended.
There will also be pop-up community testing sites at various locations supporting the above.
People with symptoms or those who have been asked to self-isolate as a close contact of a Covid case should not attend.