THE leader of Basildon Council said more restrictions “are a very real possibility” if urgent action is not taken now to fight rising Covid-19 cases.

Gavin Callaghan has welcomed the introducing of mass Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) for the borough but claims it could have been done sooner.

He has insisted schools should close early for Christmas to prevent further spread of Covid-19, as Basildon is now the sixth worst affected area in England.

His comments come after a further 731 cases per 100,000 people were confirmed in the seven days to December 3, a rise from 544 in the week prior.

The borough’s rate of infection rose from 290.6 to 390.5 in a single week.

Mr Callaghan said: “We agreed to enter into Tier Two early on the proviso that we would be the first for the lateral flow tests, which give results in around 30 minutes.

“We have been ready to get the ball rolling since October 15, so it is hard to understand why the Government and Essex County Council have taken almost two months to get their house in order.

“The ECC and government delays have put Basildon in a precarious position with our infection rate now rising to one of the highest in the country. This never needed to happen.”

On Monday, County Hall ruled out plans to close schools early on December 11, and announced more school testing and mobile testing sites, stating it must take “informed and proportional” responses to the virus.

Elsewhere in south Essex, Southend’s rate rose from 115.8 to 176.4 with 323 new cases confirmed, Castle Point’s fell from 178.1 to 175.9, with 159 new case, and Rochford’s rate rose from 132.8 to 160.2 with 140 new cases.

Brentwood saw a huge surge, with the infection rate going from 157.1 to 249.3, with 192 new cases.

Gavin Callaghan added: “It is imperative now that ECC and partners really listen to Basildon Council and up the pace of their response to this growing issue in the borough. And not just on testing.

“Schools must also be prioritised in the response. It is imperative that schools now close early for Christmas as cases continue to rise among the young and teaching staff, at alarming rates.

“We must end the confusion and chaotic approach to this across the borough.

“We need to stop this age group from mixing and this needs to happen at least two weeks before Christmas when families, including elderly relatives, will be sitting down together for their Christmas dinner. No one wants further restrictions imposed on us but that is a very real possibility if we don’t all continue to play our part now.”

A spokesman for Essex County Council, said: “Essex is in the first tranche of pilots nationally to begin Lateral Flow Testing and we are grateful to Basildon Council for their support in providing a venue where the tests can be carried out.

“We have moved quickly since the first lateral flow tests arrived at the end of November to secure a provider, train staff, achieve national sign off and ensure appropriate clinical governance in advance of setting up the testing centre. This is a complex task as it needs to link with both local Track and Trace in Essex and the national NHS system. It is now up and running with all booking slots between Tuesday and Friday already taken.

“We talk to schools and assess the position on a daily basis, working to support headteachers on the difficult decisions they need to make, and of course providing testing to those schools impacted by rising infection levels in Basildon.”