Staffordshire County Council is issuing a plea for patience as the decision over national lockdown regulations is expected and county-wide Covid case rates continue to rise.

PM Boris Johnson is due to appear at a news conference at 6:00pm today (Monday, 14 June) with reports suggesting regulations will remain in place for another four weeks past the original 21 June date.

Latest Covid-19 figures are showing cases creeping up in most parts of Staffordshire and this announcement comes as surge testing starts in Leek and Cheddleton following an outbreak of the Delta variant.

A pop-up vaccine centre for over 18s is also taking place in Leek until Wednesday (16 June).

Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Integrated Care, Dr. Johnny McMahon, said: "It looks like further reopening and the final part of the government's roadmap is going to be delayed – which I know is a devastating blow for many of our businesses here in Staffordshire.

"With figures creeping up locally and nationally and the more transmissible Delta variant becoming the dominant strain, I feel showing some patience at this critical time is the prudent course of action.

"It appears from early reports the Delta variant is having a more severe effect on people who have not yet had their vaccinations. So, we must be patent and make sure we do all we can to encourage people to get their first and second jabs without delay."