Covid case rates falling across south Essex, figures show

Progress has been made in driving the number of new cases down in the area in the last week.

Across Essex cases and the infection rate have also fallen in every area.

In south Essex Basildon now has the lowest infection rate at 401.7 cases per 100,000 people.

This was down from a rate of 563.6 the week before. 

In the seven days to January 23 the number of new positive cases was 752.

This is down from the 1,055 cases recorded in the previous week.

In Southend the rate of infection is now 430.3 cases per 100,000 people down from 624.7 the week before.

In the seven day period there were 788 new cases recorded.

Read more: Map shows the promising drop in Essex coronavirus rates over two weeks

Thurrock has also seen cases fall with 765 in the last seven day period meaning the area has a rate of 438.8 cases per 100,000 people.

This is down from a rate of 793.8 the week before. 

The figures, for the seven days to January 23, are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community.

Data for the most recent four days (January 24-27) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

Maps shows how infection rates in south Essex have fallen over the last two weeks

Elsewhere in Essex Tendring now has the highest rate at 563.6 cases per 100,000 people.

Uttlesford has the lowest rate with 283.7 cases per 100,000 people.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 18 (6%) have seen a rise in case rates and 297 (94%) have seen a fall.

Knowsley in Merseyside continues to have the highest rate in England, with 1,241 new cases recorded in the seven days to January 23, the equivalent of 822.6 cases per 100,000 people.

This is down from 1,102.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to January 16.

Sandwell in the West Midlands has the second highest rate, down from 930.4 to 781.5, with 2,567 new cases.

Slough in Berkshire is in third place, down from 1,022.5 to 714.9, with 1,069 new cases.