ANY Maldon travellers due to fly from Stansted may want to know that the rise in Covid-19 cases in the surrounding area has not been linked to the airport.

A peak in Covid-19 cases in Uttlesford is not linked to Stansted Airport, Essex County Council's public health chief has said.

The district is now registering 21.9 cases per 100,000 – the highest rate in Essex – over the past seven days.

There has been a notable increase of coronavirus cases over the past four weeks in Essex, moving from 3.8 per 100,000 population on 19 August to 7.9 cases per 100,000 currently.

In Uttlesford, the rate has increased from 9.9 per 100,000 to 21.9 per 100,000 in the same period.

Dr Mike Gogarty, Director of Public Health at Essex County Council, said: "There is no link in these figures to Stansted Airport. The presence of the airport does not particularly impact on the district, as most airport workers are not Uttlesford residents.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and respond appropriately if the situation changes.

"The most important thing for residents to remember is to adhere to social distancing, to book a test if you experience symptoms and to isolate if you are identified as a contact of a positive case."