People who must leave their homes during the lockdown are being urged to keep getting tested - as eight new Community Testing Centres open across Staffordshire today (Monday).

The centres, one in each district and borough, will aim to offer testing seven days a week for people without symptoms. These will be supported by community testing pop-ups in hotspot areas which see the highest numbers of cases.

Dr Johnny McMahon Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said: "While everyone should be staying at home as much as possible, there are some people who have a legitimate need to be out and about, for example for essential shopping or because they cannot work from home.

"Cases continue to be worryingly high in Staffordshire and we need to do everything we can to protect lives and ease pressure on the NHS this winter. We know that one in three people who have the virus show no symptoms, so that's why we need everyone who is out and about to get tested on a regular basis and help us stop the spread of infection.

"Testing is quick, simple and free and may will protect the people you care for and the wider community. The new centres will be open seven days a quick so we are asking people who are working during the week to think about making Saturday or Sunday a Testing Day."

The centres will be at:

- Cannock: Cannock Leisure Centre

- East Staffordshire: Hillfield House, Burton-on-Trent

- Lichfield: Burntwood Leisure Centre

- Newcastle: The Seabridge Centre

- South Staffordshire: Wombourne Library

- Stafford: The Kingston Centre, Stafford

- Staffordshire Moorlands: Biddulph Leisure Centre

- Tamworth: Tamworth College (Monday to Friday only) – with Community Testing Pop-Up Cover where available

Tests should be booked in advance by clicking here. People with symptoms or those who have been asked to self-isolate as a close contact of a Covid case should not attend.