Every area of the Maldon district has a Covid infection rate above 1,000 cases per 100,000 people, latest figures reveal.

The Great Totham, Wickham Bishops and Woodham area has the highest case rate, at 1,919 cases per 100,000 people, according to an interactive map published by the Government for the seven-day period ending on 29 December.

Cases have also continued to rise in every area of the district amid the spread of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant.

Cases rose most steeply in the Southminster, Bradwell and Dengie Peninsula area, where they were up by 91.6 per cent on the previous week.

The Government has announced new guidelines for schools before term begins this week, in efforts to tackle the spread of Omicron.

Secondary school students will have to wear masks in classrooms, while schools can ask for their Ofsted inspections to be postponed if they are badly hit by Covid-related staff absences.

An additional 7,000 new air purifiers are also being provided to schools to improve their air ventilation.

Here's a full breakdown of the figures for the Maldon district:

The figures are for the seven-day period ending on Wednesday, 29 December.

Great Totham, Wickham Bishops and Woodham

Total cases: 144 (+32)

Up by 28.6 per cent on the previous week.

Case rate per 100,000 people is 1,919.

Heybridge

Total cases: 158 (+16)

Up by 11.3 per cent on the previous week.

Case rate per 100,000 people is 1,839.1.

Southminster, Bradwell and Dengie Peninsula

Total cases: 159 (+76)

Up by 91.6 per cent on the previous week.

Case rate per 100,000 people is 1,725.3.

Maldon South

Total cases: 132 (+16)

Up by 13.8 per cent on the previous week.

Case rate per 100,000 people is 1,703.9.

Burnham-on-Crouch

Total cases: 138 (+44)

Up by 46.8 per cent on the previous week.

Case rate per 100,000 people is 1,678.6.

Tollesbury, Tolleshunt and Goldhanger

Total cases: 108 (+12)

Up by 12.5 per cent on the previous week.

Case rate per 100,000 people is 1,662.3

Maldon North

Total cases: 105 (+10)

Up by 10.5 per cent on the previous week.

Case rate per 100,000 people is 1,517.6.

Mayland, Althorne and Cold Norton

Total cases: 158 (+36)

Up by 29.5 per cent on the previous week.

Case rate per 100,000 people is 1,475.8.