Thousands urged to get tested after Indian Covid-19 variant found in Leek
People who visited two Moorlands pubs are also being asked to get checked.
Households with links to all Leek schools are being urged to get a Covid PCR after cases of the Indian Variant are suspected in the town.
To date 28 people with links to Westwood College, St Edward’s Middle School and Leek High School have tested positive for the virus and almost 1,000 pupils and staff are self-isolating due to being close contacts with the cases or part of school bubbles.
Health chiefs suspect some cases may be due to the Variant of Concern (VOC) first found in India.
Staffordshire County Council and Public Health England are now taking the step of urging families with links to ALL schools in Leek to get a PCR. test, as these tests can be sent for genotyping.
Staff and customers who visited the following venues on the specified dates are also being urged to get tested. This is because people may have visited the venues while infectious.
• The Three Horseshoes Country Inn & Spa, Buxton Road, Blackshaw Moor ST13 8TW between 24-26 May
• The Black Lion, 12 Hollow Lane Cheddleton, ST13 7HP between 22-23 May
Dr Richard Harling, Staffordshire County Council’s Director for Health and Care, said: "Over the Bank Holiday weekend we saw a sharp surge in the number of positive cases identified in pupils and staff at schools in Leek with some transmission to other family members.
"We want to identify any further cases as quickly as possible and contain this outbreak.
"This is a timely reminder that Covid is still with us and how important it is for everyone to stick to the rules, get tested regularly, isolate if required and get vaccinated as soon as possible."
People who have already been asked to isolate should also get a PCR test and must continue to isolate even if they have a negative result.
Extra local testing arrangements are being finalised today, and in the meantime people can also fine there nearest centre online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
Everyone who is 30 or over and eligible to have the vaccine is being urged to get the vaccine as soon as possible.