Council urges people to stay safe during lockdown

Published on 5 November 2020

With England entering a second lockdown period from today (Thursday 5 November), the Council is urging people to follow the rules, reduce the infection rate and keep themselves safe over the next four weeks.

The Government has announced a month-long lockdown across the whole of England which means some businesses, including hospitality, non-essential retail and close contact services such as hairdressers and beauty salons, and gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools must close.

People are also advised to stay at home as much as possible and only go out if essential for work, shopping, exercise, education or medical appointments. Socialising with other households indoors or in private gardens is not allowed unless you are in a support bubble. You can meet one person from another household outdoors, for example, in a park.

Councillor Sybil Ralphs, Leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, said: "A second national lockdown is not what anyone wanted but the infection rate continues to rise and we must all do what we can to help stop the virus spreading.

"There is no room for complacency from any community - it may seem that the virus is more prevalent in the bigger cities and urban areas but people should be under no illusion that it is very much present here in the Moorlands and Staffordshire and people are suffering and, very sadly, dying.

"Covid has affected everyone is some way and we know how hard the restrictions are but the only way for us to be able to return to doing the things we enjoy and seeing the people we love is to bring the number of positive cases down and keep it down.

"Everyone is by now very well aware of the hands - face - space guidance and that remains the best way to protect yourselves and others. I'd also urge people to really follow the lockdown rules over the next few weeks by staying at home as much as possible so that we can look forward to easing some of the restrictions in December."

The Council is working through the latest Government guidance and support available and information for residents and businesses is available on the website www.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk/coronavirus

Councillor Ralphs added: "Our receptions remain closed at present to keep everyone safe but the Council is very much open for business as usual. Our website has lots more information about Covid, and all our services, and people can contact us online at any time for help and advice.

"In terms of financial support for businesses across the District affected by this lockdown, our teams are working through the Government guidance and setting up the application processes as quickly as we can. So please bear with us - we'll let you know when it's up and running."