Staffordshire County Council is reminding residents of the importance of getting a Covid test and highlighting the range of options available.

The Covid case rate is falling and the council is keen to remind people they should be in a routine of getting tested regularly to keep them coming down and ensure we can make progress out of lockdown.

The case rate in Staffordshire has fallen to 67 per 100,000 population in the last week, just above the England average of 58.

We remain in national lockdown, and the council says that people should stay at home, unless they need to leave the house for essential reasons.

If people do go out they are being encouraged to get tested twice weekly.

This can be done at their nearest Community Testing Centre, through their employer if they are offering testing, or by collecting home test kits from a national testing site as part of the community collect initiative.

Through community collect, anyone aged 18 or over can collect two testing packs which contain seven tests each. There are seven sites in Staffordshire, open each day from 1.30pm to 7:00pm and you don't need to make an appointment.

Dr Johnny McMahon Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said: "With community collect in place, testing at work set up with many employers and good availability of community testing locally it has never been easier to get a test.

"Our schools are back open, and people are already looking ahead to the next stage of the government roadmap, which is due to come into force on 29 March.

"During this period of gradual easing, the importance of community testing cannot be under-stated.

"Getting tested regularly, taking up the vaccine and following all the rules are actions everybody must embrace to make sure we stay on course and successfully navigate our route out of lockdown."