Further coronavirus cases linked to Stone pub 'unlikely'

There have been 22 confirmed cases linked to the Crown & Anchor Pub in Stone over the weekend of July 17.

Fifteen of these are residents of the Staffordshire County Council area and and seven are from Stoke-on-Trent.

More than 60 people who have been in contact with them have been identified and all have been told to self-isolate for 14 days.

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About 1,000 people have been tested in connection with the outbreak and authorities have said they are confident that it is unlikely there will be further confirmed cases who were infected at the Crown and Anchor or by others who were there.

Dr Richard Harling, Staffordshire County Council’s Director of Health and Care, said: “By acting swiftly to test and trace people connected to the pub over the weekend of 17-18 July, we believe that we have been able to contain any further spread of the virus.

“While we will continue to monitor the situation, and may still see a small number of cases in family members, we feel that we can step down the incident today.

“I would like to thank the people of Stone and all those who came forward to be tested for their cooperation in managing this significant outbreak."

The Crown and Anchor remains closed and will not be allowed to reopen until it can be demonstrated that strict measures are in place to ensure good hygiene and social distancing, in line with national guidance.

Alan White, Staffordshire County Council’s leader, said: “Containing this outbreak has been a real joint effort at a local level, with our partners, businesses, residents and young people who attended the pub working together to turn this incident around.

“While we have stepped down the incident today, the risk remains to everyone in Staffordshire and if this outbreak has taught us anything it is that we can’t afford to become complacent about Covid-19.”