Maldon MP John Whittingdale has urged the community to continue social distancing and wearing face masks in crowded situations after it emerged that the district is bucking the Essex trend with Covid infections - and travelling the wrong way.

In a statement released yesterday afternoon (Friday, 30 July), Mr Whittingdale said: "The latest figures show that across Essex the number of cases has begun to fall, having risen very sharply over the last month.

"However, this was not the case in Maldon District where the number of cases at the end of last week (week ending Friday, 23 July) was up by 20 per cent on the previous week to 446 per 100,000.

"The good news is that for most the symptoms are not severe and it may be that numbers are actually higher still with a lot of people having such mild symptoms that they are not being tested."

But the MP pointed to the fact that hospitalisations in the county are on the increase and warned that preventative measures are still needed to help stop community transmission, adding: "However, hospitalisation rates have also risen with 129 beds occupied by Covid patients across Essex on 26 July, up from 80 the previous week.

"There is no doubt that the vaccine programme is working, both in containing the spread of the virus and making its effect much less severe.

"However, the figures clearly demonstrate that it is not yet beaten and that we need to remain safe by adopting sensible precautions such as masks and distancing in crowded places.

"It is also essential that everyone over 18 should ensure that they receive both doses of the vaccine unless there are medical reasons for them not to do so."