FAMILIES have been told to use rapid Covid tests and booster vaccination shots to protect their grandparents this Christmas.

With Christmas cancelled by the Prime Minister just days before December 25 last year, many will be excited to finally get to gather with their families this festive season.

But Southend’s director of public health has issued a stark warning over the need to take precautions to protect the elderly as coronavirus cases rise in south Essex.

“People need to be thinking about protecting their family, especially the older generations, when they are meeting up, “Krishna Ramkhelawon said.

“We need to make sure that we are testing and getting booster shots where possible with these increasing rates.”

In Southend the rate of infection – expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people – has shot up from 367.1 in the seven days to November 11 to 472.7 in the seven days to November 18 (the latest available accurate data).

In Basildon, case rates have risen similarly to 461.2 from 379.1 the week prior.

Both boroughs reflect the national picture; 79 per cent of the 377 local authorities in the UK have seen a week-on-week rise in rates.

“If you are going to be visiting family in the coming weeks and months it is important that parents make sure their children and themselves are testing before meeting the older generations,” Mr Ramkhelawon stressed.

“As a council, we have never really departed from the need to test before you meet with older people, but it is even more important people are aware of this heading into Christmas.

He added: “If we are going to reduce the risk in our communities, we need to get people to see there is real value in using rapid testing.”

The council health boss did note that despite spiralling cases, there was some good news.

“We continuously see a reduction in those with the virus aged over 60,” he said.

“This is an indication the cross-infection we were worried about with young people meeting with their grandparents over half term was not quite as significant as feared.”

However, he warned that the latest figures were likely a sign of what is to come as winter deepens.

“We are now going to see more rising case rates in the coming weeks,” he said. “I think it is going to be quite concerning given what we are seeing with the rapid rise in Europe.”