LATEST Essex-wide figures for Covid-19 show that there was one new confirmed case of the disease in Maldon district in the seven days up to yesterday (Friday 7 August).

Rochford District was the only area in the county with no new confirmed cases at all, while Colchester, Castle Point and Brentwood also had one new case each. Chelmsford saw the biggest increase in new cases across the county, with 10 confirmed.

Maldon district continues to have the lowest total number of confirmed cases so far since the start of the pandemic at 141 (this number has been adjusted slightly from the previous week), equivalent to 217.2 cases per 100,000 people. These figures have been taken from Essex County Council's Covid-19 tracker.

An exact figure for the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Maldon district during the pandemic was not available, but is confirmed as remaining lower than in any other area of Essex.

Essex County Council's public health team emphasised last week that while the figures are currently pleasing, it is crucial that residents continue to observe social distancing and all other Covid-19 prevention measures.

Maldon District Council leader, Councillor Adrian Fluker, yesterday added: "I am relieved that the Maldon District is currently showing the lowest total confirmed number of coronavirus cases in Essex, but I would not want to be complacent. It would not take much for the number of cases to rise, so I would like to urge residents and visitors to continue doing the great job they are doing in following the government guidance, and to ensure that we can stay alert, control the virus and save lives."