The number of people in hospital with Covid is more than it was in the spring, while less patients are on ventilators - new figures have revealed.

Figures show on December 27 the seven day average for number of Covid patients in Mid and South Essex hospitals was 593 compared to 253 in April.

But the number of patients on ventilators has dropped to an average of 28 and this was at 71 back in early April.

It comes as it was revealed two areas of south Essex sit in the top three for infection rates across England.

Thurrock and Castle Point's infection rates continue to rise, at 1,472 per 100,000 people and 1,420 per 100,000 respectively.

Thurrock saw 2,566 cases reported from the seven days up to January 1, while Castle Point saw a further 1,283 cases recorded across the same time period.

The two areas of south Essex are only beaten by Barking and Dagenham in London, with an infection rate 1,511 per 100,000.