The latest Covid infection rates across Essex show a continued rise in most areas with Maldon district recording 238.7 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to Saturday, 12 December.

It is important to note that the figure for this period could still rise as not all results for tests taken up to and including that date may yet be in. However, the figure remains one of the lower ones for the Essex County Council area, with Basildon the highest at 697 cases per 100,000 population up to 12 December.

Essex (excluding the unitary authority areas of Thurrock and Southend) has an infection rate to the 12 December of 351.4 per 100,000.

These figures show the rise in cases when compared with those recorded for the seven days up to 3 December – just nine days earlier. These were 115.6 per 100,000 for Maldon, 390 for Basildon and 169.4 for Essex.

Infection rates (per 100,000) for other areas of the county up to 12 December are as follows:

• Braintree: 367.6

• Brentwood: 493.4

• Castle Point: 402.8

• Chelmsford: 337

• Colchester: 127.5

• Epping Forest: 496

• Harlow: 314.5

• Rochford: 443.8

• Tendring: 111.9

• Uttlesford: 163.2

The only county areas still under Tier 2 restrictions are Colchester, Tendring and Uttlesford. These three areas will be reviewed by the Government today. The rest of Essex is now under Tier 3 'Very High' level restrictions, which started today (Wednesday, 16 December).

These figures were calculated using the Essex County Council Covid tracker data sheets, based on Public Health England data.