A new team of COVID Support Officers is being introduced in Rutland following the second national lockdown, to offer help and assistance to shoppers and businesses.

Rutland County Council has started deploying the COVID Support Officers (CSOs) in Oakham this week, following consultation with Oakham and Uppingham Town Councils. Uppingham Town Council is continuing to review whether the CSOs are also needed in Uppingham.

Coun Lucy Stephenson, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: "It's been encouraging to see Rutland's COVID-19 cases coming down in recent weeks. Now the second lockdown has ended, more shops and businesses are able to reopen and we have new regulations to follow, after been ranked as a Tier 2 area.

"To help shops, pubs and restaurants get back to business safely and assist people in getting to grips with the new rules, we've introduced a dedicated team of COVID Support Officers who will be a visible presence and friendly source of information for residents over the coming weeks."

The CSOs will be out and about during the daytime and in the evenings, to support both the daytime and night time economies. They will support businesses and visitors to the town on a wide range of COVID-19 matters, including:

· Acting as an information point, signposting members of the public to government guidance

· Offering advice and promoting awareness of public health measures, such as wearing face coverings in enclosed spaces and meeting safely

· Observing areas for potential breaches of any Government measures that are in place

· Checking the visibility of COVID-19 messages and signs

· Offering support to businesses that may be struggling to understand the latest guidelines

The officers will not have an enforcement role or issue any form of fixed penalty notices.

For the latest information and guidance relating to COVID-19, including the Tier 2 (High Alert) regulations in place in Rutland, please visit: www.gov.uk/coronavirus.