Only four areas in south Essex are considered to be Covid hotspots, latest figures show.

Infection rates across the region – and country - remain low as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to confirm the next easing of lockdown.

The rules are set to change next Monday (May 17) to allow pubs and restaurants to reopen indoors, household mixing inside and bigger outdoor gatherings.

Mr Johnson is also expected to announce hugs will be allowed again.

In south Essex, the Thurrock district has the highest rate of infection with 11.5 cases per 100,000 people.

Castle Point has the lowest with 2.2. Only two coronavirus cases have been recorded in the borough in the past week.

There are only four areas across the whole of south Essex which recorded multiple Covid cases in the seven days ending May 4.

Those areas, and their localised infection rates. were:

  • Shoebury (25)
  • Eastwood Park (31.5)
  • Billericay Central and Sunnymeade (37.1)
  • Tilbury (27.1)

The average infection rate across the UK is 21.1.

There were 19 cases of coronavirus recorded in Southend last week and 16 in Basildon.

Meanwhile more than a quarter of people in south Essex have had both doses of the Covid vaccine.

More than 50 million vaccine doses have been administered in the UK and the Government says it is on track to offer all adults a first dose by the end of July.

Read more: 

Mr Johnson is set to host a press conference on Monday afternoon to confirm the further easing of restrictions.

He said: “The road map remains on track, our successful vaccination programme continues – more than two-thirds of adults in the UK have now had the first vaccine – and we can now look forward to unlocking cautiously but irreversibly.

“It’s because of the British public’s unwavering commitment that we are saving lives, protecting the NHS and controlling the virus.”