THE latest available Covid-19 figures show that the Maldon district continues to have one of the lowest infection rates in the whole of the Greater Essex area.

According to Essex County Council's Covid-19 tracker, there was one new case of the disease confirmed in Maldon in the seven days to Tuesday (18 August), representing a current infection rate of 1.5 per 100,000 population.

With 144 total confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic, figures for the Maldon district remain by far the lowest in the county, with a total infection rate of 221.8 per 100,000 population. Harlow district remains the worst-affected, with a total of 457.1 people per 100,000.

Cornovirus-related deaths in the whole of the Maldon district have been updated to show a total of 35, including both hospital and care home deaths. There have been no Covid- related hospital deaths in the area since June, but one care home death was registered in the week ending 7 August.

Total Covid-19 deaths for the area covered by Essex County Council since the outbreak started, excluding Thurrock and Southend, are now at a total of 1, 404 people. There has been 5,839 confirmed cases in Essex – showing that around 392 people in every 100,000 people have been infected during the pandemic so far.

The county's public health experts have warned that continuing to follow government guidance on social distancing, face coverings and hand washing is essential to help keep control of the virus.