COUNCIL staff are set to visit supermarkets across Colchester to help ensure stores are Covid compliant.

The leader of Colchester Council has written to supermarket chiefs across the borough urging them to step up Covid protections, with the borough at a "very dangerous point" in its fight against coronavirus.

Praising the work already undertaken by supermarkets, Mark Cory (Lib Dem) has appealed for stores' to step up further to limit the spread of coronavirus in the borough.

The council's Covid marshals are set to visit supermarkets to ensure Covid rules are being met.

Mr Cory said: "I’m sure you know we are at a very dangerous point, with light around the corner but dark days still to come and a local hospital at breaking point.

"Critical staff are stretched beyond what is reasonable, the new more contagious strain has taken hold in Colchester and quite understandably those we rely on to volunteer and help in times of emergency are worried about the risks.

"Support for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities is becoming a challenge at a time when we are in need of more volunteers than ever before.

"Many of our care homes have large outbreaks and people are dying. We must do all we can to stop the spread in these next few months.

"I make no apology for once again asking you to check that you are doing everything you can.

"This includes having a local store-based written risk assessment for Covid and in line with Government guidance I have asked our Covid Marshals to visit supermarkets across the borough to ensure all measures required are being taken.

"I hope you will see this as an added benefit that helps provide you, the council and the public with reassurance."

He added: "I trust these extra resources will be warmly received given their remit in helping control the spread and saving lives."

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Mr Cory has also asked for the supermarket's support to provide charity Community360 with assistance as they try and recruit volunteers to the vaccination programme.

He said: "We feel that their informal presence provides further opportunity to promote the safety messages while at the same time recruiting the much needed support that our critical services need at this time."