The county council has urged Staffordshire residents to do everything they can to protect themselves and others from Covid-19 and help keep essential services running in the new year.

The latest seven-day case rate for Staffordshire stands at a record high of 1,000 per 100,000 population, increasing the risk of essential services not being able to operate due to staff needing to isolate.

As a result the council has urged people to limit contact with those they do not live with. If people are planning to see friends and family or go on a night out to celebrate New Year, they should get tested beforehand if possible to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus to other people.

Director for Health and Care at Staffordshire County Council, Dr Richard Harling, said: "The spread of the Omicron variant is causing case rates to rise very rapidly, and while vaccination offers a level of protection against the variant, the increased transmission poses a risk to the operation of essential services in the county, such as health and social care, due to key workers potentially needing to isolate.

"We can all play our part by avoiding unnecessary risk over the new year period that could result in further spread of infection. Testing before meeting people or going to crowded places is key to this, along with limiting unnecessary social contact."

Richard also stressed the importance of residents getting vaccinated and boosted to help protect themselves against the new variant.

He added: "Early indications show that two vaccines and a booster jab offer people good protection against the new Omicron variant, so if you are awaiting your booster jab, please get an appointment booked in as soon as possible."