CORONAVIRUS infection rates have fallen dramatically in the last few days as south Essex “turns the corner” of the Omicron wave’s peak.

Southend’s director of public health is cautiously optimistic the worst of the winter Covid-19 surge is behind us.

Experts had previously forecast the peak of the latest wave – spurred on by the hyper-transmissible Omicron variant – would have been hit yesterday.

However, infection rates – express as the number of cases per 100,000 residents – have now fallen to 1,233.8 having peaked at 1,968 on January 2.

Krishna Ramkhelawon said: ““I am hoping that we have turned a corner with fighting the virus, we can only hope that what we are seeing will continue into Spring.

“It’s really great as we had been told the peak was expected yesterday, so we have seen the peek happen earlier than expected.

He added: “Most importantly, in the over 60s age group, which in Southend for a long time had seen very high rates of infection, we have seen now five days of reduction.”

The falling case rates in Southend reflect the wider national picture. Of the 377 local areas in the UK, 97 per cent have seen a fall in cases.

In Basildon the infection rate has plummeted to 1,294 having stood at 2090.6 just seven days earlier.

And Mr Ramkhelawon is optimistic this progress will continue, with residents pitching in and doing their bit, following the guidelines set by Government, despite reports of parties and rule-breaking filtering out of Downing Street.

“I am concerned that people may be less inclined to follow the rules as a result of what we have been hearing about Number 10,” said Mr Ramkhelawon.

“But I think it’s fair to say that people are largely doing the right thing, I saw a huge proportion of people wearing face coverings over the weekend, and I can’t see people abating from the need to do the right thing.

“And long may it continue, because if we can bring this level further down before the restrictions are lifted on the January 26 then we will be in a good place moving forward.”