Staffordshire County Council is calling on residents to remain vigilant as concerns surrounding emerging coronavirus variants grow.

Covid case rates have increased in Staffordshire over the bank holiday weekend. As the county basks in warmer weather the Council is urging residents to keep following the roadmap rules, take up the jab when offered and to get tested twice a week.

The Council is also pointing to the growing numbers of the Indian variant being identified in the county as another reason to not get complacent.

Currently people can meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors with indoor gatherings limited to six people or two households.

People are still advised to continue to work from home where they can and to avoid identified Indian variant hotspot areas if possible.

People should also continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of infection such as hand hygiene, social distancing and face coverings in indoor public spaces.

Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Integrated Care, Dr. Johnny McMahon, said: "The emergence of the Indian variant is a growing cause for concern for Staffordshire and we are monitoring the situation closely.

"We are taking appropriate precautionary measures with additional testing of contacts and accelerating the vaccination programme, and we are asking residents to continue do their bit to stop the variant of concern getting a foothold in the county.

"People must not get carried away with the new freedoms or distracted by the lovely sunshine we are enjoying – we must still follow the rules in place, get the jab when offered and make time in our daily routines to get tested."