Residents and businesses across Staffordshire have been urged to download the new NHS Test and Trace app by the county council.

The NHS Covid-19 app and QR check-in launches today (Thursday) in England and Wales. This means that certain premises, including council-run venues, will be legally required to display NHS QR code posters.

The county council has been working to make sure that venues across Staffordshire are prepared ahead of the new app's roll-out.

Venues have already been required to record and maintain contact details logs for customers, visitors and staff, and they now also need to clearly display a QR poster in addition to maintaining and sharing records.

Many Staffordshire venues are now up to speed with the new regulations and already informing visitors of the app and new check-in requirements that come into force.

Businesses risk being fined up to £1,000 if they fail to comply, which can rise to £4,000 for repeat offenders, but the county council says venues understand the need for the new scheme.

The authority is now shifting its focus to urging the public to download the NHS Covid-19 app, and spreading the message that the more people who use the app, the more effective it will be for contact tracing.

The app is free to download and is available on both Apple and Android devices.

Dr Johnny McMahon, Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said: "Asking residents and businesses to fully embrace the new NHS app is vital to help control the spread of the virus and it will also play an important part to help secure a path leading to the easing of some of the national restrictions announced yesterday."

If some venues still need to create a QR poster, there are instructions available on the Government website.

You can also check which venues this new rule applies to.

For further information on how to download and use the new app, click here.