THE most up to date coronavirus infection rates for south Essex have been revealed.

Every seven days, the Government publishes a rolling seven-day rate based on tests carried out in laboratories - pillar one of the Government’s testing programme - and in the wider community - pillar two.

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

The Southend rate is placed at 16.9, with 31 new cases confirmed in the last seven days, up from 15.3 last week, when 28 cases were confirmed.

The Basildon rate is 17.1 after 32 new cases were confirmed, set against 16.6 seven days ago, when 31 new cases had been confirmed.

In Castle Point, the rate has been cut to 24.3, with 22 new cases confirmed, compared to 29.9 seven days ago when 27 cases had been confirmed.

In Rochford, the rate has risen to 14.9, with 13 new cases confirmed. That is up from 12.6 a week ago, when 11 new cases had been confirmed.

For context, in Bolton, 612 new cases were recorded in the seven days to September 20 – the equivalent of 212.8 per 100,000 people.

Bolton continues to record the highest rate in England, though it is down from 213.9 in the seven days to September 13.

South Tyneside has the second highest rate, up from 98.7 to 189.4 with 286 new cases.

Hyndburn is in third place, where the rate has risen from 132.0 to 183.9, with 149 new cases.

Other areas recording sharp increases in their seven-day rates include:

– Newcastle upon Tyne (up from 67.4 to 158.8, with 481 new cases)

– Halton (up from 81.1 to 168.5, with 218 new cases)

– Pendle (up from 72.7 to 150.9 with 139 new cases)

– Bury (up from 97.9 to 173.3 with 331 new cases)

– Manchester (up from 82.5 to 153.2 with 847 new cases)