The seven-day Covid-19 infection rate for Maldon district now stands at 694.5 cases per 100,000 population.

The figure has been calculated using Public Health England data for the seven days up to 23 December and shows 451 new cases were recorded. This has allowed five days for test results to come back in, though could increase further due to any delays caused by the Christmas holiday period.

The latest data shows a substantial increase on the previous seven-day period for Maldon district, with a rate of 463.8 cases per 100,000 recorded for the week running to 17 December.

The countywide infection rate for the seven days to 23 December is 849.6 cases per 100,000, recording 12,646 cases over the week. These figures do not include Southend and Thurrock, which are unitary authorities and lie outside of the county area for the purposes of these calculations.

Brentwood now has the highest infection rate in the county area, with 1,142.5 cases per 100,000 people - a total of 1,111 new cases - in the seven days to 23 December.

The latest infection rates per district for the county area

The county area data for each district for the seven days up to 23 December is as follows:

• Basildon: 1,059.8 cases per 100,000
• Braintree: 820.8 cases per 100,000
• Brentwood: 1,142 cases per 100,000
• Castle Point: 1,179.5 cases per 100,000
• Colchester: 402.1 cases per 100,000
• Epping Forest: 1,388.6 cases per 100,000
• Harlow: 927.7 cases per 100,000
• Maldon: 694.5 cases per 100,000
• Rochford: 1,011.9 cases per 100,000
• Tendring: 371.1 cases per 100,000
• Uttlesford: 513.8 cases per 100,000

All areas of Essex are now under Tier 4 restrictions. The Tier 4 for Maldon will be reviewed on Wednesday, 30 December.