MALDON district is one of five areas in Essex to have shown a small decrease in the rate of Covid-19 infections as of Saturday, 17 October.

The latest figures from Essex County Council show the district bucked the trend with a rate of confirmed positive cases per 100,000 of 47.7, set against 55.4 on 14 October. Some areas showed a steep climb in cases, including Basildon, up from 75.3 to 94 per 100,000, Colchester, which moved from 58 to 70.9 and Harlow, leaping to 70.1 from 54 per 100,000.

Thurrock, a unitary authority which has not moved into Tier 2 'High' level restrictions with the Essex County Council area, moved from 75 per 100,000 on 14 October to 101 by Saturday.

Essex County Council asked the Government to move into higher level restrictions last Tuesday, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock giving the nod to the move last Thursday. The county council area moved into Tier 2 on Saturday as a result.

Thurrock Council decided not to join in with the county's request. The Southend area also remains in the 'Medium' Tier 1 alert category and has not seen a significant shift in the rate of infection since 14 October, moving from 49 to 49.7.

Any impact in lowering the rate of infection from Essex's move into Tier 2 would not be expected to fully show for up to two weeks or more. All figures on each district released can be a number of days behind the real picture.