Bingo night in Staffordshire sparks coronavirus outbreak as 16 test positive
A bingo night in Staffordshire has become the source of a worrying coronavirus outbreak in Staffordshire.
More than 1,000 people have now been tested for Covid-19 after 16 cases of the virus emerged in the area.
They were all linked to the social event at Silverdale Working Men’s Club on August 16, Staffordshire County Council said.
As part of the authority's test and trace efforts, it is urging anyone who visited certain venues in Silverdale or Newcastle on specific dates to get tested as soon as possible.
– Silverdale Working Men’s Club between August 16 and 21
– The Bush pub between August 20 and 22
– The Vine pub between August 20 and 23
– The George and Dragon pub between August 20 and 22
– Newcastle (King Street) Working Men’s Club on August 22
– The Kiln on August 22
– The Crown on August 22
– Yates in Newcastle on August 22
– The Roebuck pub on August 23
– The Bilash restaurant on August 24
– The Arnold Machin between August 26 and 27
– The Westbury Tavern in Clayton between August 26 and 27
Staffordshire County Council said testing would continue over the Bank Holiday, with appointments available online or by turning up at a mobile testing unit in Knutton or walk-through centre in Newcastle.
All of the venues listed have carried out risk assessments and, with measures in place, can continue to open and welcome customers, the council added.
Dr Richard Harling, director of health and care, said: “What we are seeing from test and trace activity is a widening network from the original bingo event as people met with friends and family and went out socialising.
“More than 1,000 people have already been tested, but we need everyone who was at any of the venues on the given dates to get tested.
“This is vital in our work to identify people who may have the virus and help contain the spread of infection even further.”
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