Health chief warns more Covid-19 variants could appear as lockdown eases
A health chief in Staffordshire has urged people to be vigilant and warned more Covid-19 variants could emerge as lockdown eases.
Councillor Johnny McMahon, health, care and wellbeing chief for Staffordshire County Council, made the warning ahead of rules easing on Monday.
It comes after a case of the Indian variant of coronavirus was confirmed in the county last week in relation to a case in Tamworth.
He said: "I’d like to thank residents and businesses for taking precautions and playing their part in keeping cases low in Staffordshire.
"This means we are likely to be able to take Step Three on the government’s roadmap – which we are all looking forward to and have worked hard to make happen.
"With people possibly being allowed to stay overnight with those not in their household or bubble and more hospitality venues opening up it could be easy to think that coronavirus has been eliminated.
"Unfortunately the risk remains. We have already seen new variants in the county and I am sure more will emerge as restrictions are lifted."
Councillor McMahon urged people to play their part in preventing the spread of the virus – and called on people to follow the guidelines, get tested twice a week and take up the vaccine when they're offered it.
