LOCKDOWN is working in the Covid-19 fight but council bosses insist we must all still keep to the rules to drive cases down.

Basildon is showing promising signs with cases slashed by half in just days.

Southend also recorded a similar drop in cases, but council chiefs say too many people are still travelling too far and this must stop.

In Southend yesterday, the number of people with Covid per 100,000 was 640.5 and this dropped from 1,175.7 from January 7.

While Basildon recorded 586.0 Covid cases per 100,000 on January 14 and this was down from 1080.1 on January 7.

Ron Woodley, Independent deputy leader of Southend Council, said he was not taking outdoor exercise because too many are travelling from other areas.

He said: “We’re getting a lot of visitors to the seafront and it’s putting off people off taking outdoor exercise.

“I will not go out or to the seafront as there’s too many people down there.

“It’s the Government sending out the wrong message but just advising people and not making it enforcible by law. I put the drops down to residents who do not want to go out due to the out-of-town people.”

The figures show a steady decline in cases. Just two weeks ago, Basildon was ranked worse, then second and then third for Covid cases nationally as the rate kept rising.

Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of Basildon Council, said: “I’m pleased to report that in the last week, the infection rate in Basildon has fallen from 1080 to 586.

“This is the lowest it has been in the borough since the start of December. The lockdown is working.”

Kerry Smith, Independent deputy leader of the council, said we must keep to the rules now more than ever to keep the downward trend going.

He added: “As so many know those who have caught the virus and sadly died with it, the message is now hitting home and people are staying home but there plenty of work left to do.”