Residents in Biddulph and Staffordshire have been asked to continue to play their part as winter plans to tackle Covid were announced by Government yesterday.

Measures include:

- Maximising the uptake of vaccines amongst those eligible, including booster doses

- Continuing with free PCR and lateral flow tests

- Encouraging people to meet outdoors wherever possible and to wear facemasks in crowded areas

Ministers have also prepared a 'Plan B' of tougher measures in case pressures on the NHS become unsustainable. These plans include mandatory face coverings in some settings, encouraging people to work from home, and reserving powers for vaccine passports.

Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said everything must be done to help keep people safe, keep the economy moving and reduce the pressures on hospitals as we head towards winter.

Alan said: "In Staffordshire we all pulled together at the height of the pandemic and it has been fantastic to see the county gradually reopen and us once again been able to enjoy meeting up with friends and family and getting out an about – things which we previously took for granted.

"However, Covid is still with us and the impact it can have lives and potentially on livelihoods is still real and here in Staffordshire cases are worrying still higher than the both the national and West Midlands average.

"The vaccine has been a game changer and remains at the heart of the Government's plans to get us through this next winter."