Only 15 areas in south Essex have reported multiple cases of coronavirus in the past week.

Infection rates across the region remain low, with Basildon’s among the lowest in the country.

Only 16 Covid cases were reported in the borough in the week ending April 6, meaning its infection rate is just 8.5 cases per 100,000 people.

Castle Point (16.6), Thurrock (16.1) and Rochford (12.6) also had low infection rates in that period.

Southend has the highest rate in the county with 37.6 after 68 coronavirus cases were recorded in a week.

The majority of neighbourhoods in south Essex have been removed from the Government’s hotspots map after seeing fewer than three cases in the seven days ending April 6.

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This means the rate of infection is likely ‘supressed’.

There are now only 15 areas highlighted on the map, so here are the infection rates in each of those places:

  • Leigh (238.9)
  • West Leigh (74.1)
  • Canvey Island Leigh Beck (50.4)
  • Chadwell St Mary (48.4)
  • Westborough (44.7)
  • Chalkwell (38)
  • Rochford Outer and Hawkwell East (37.2)
  • St Lukes (35.3)
  • Langdon Hills (32.5)
  • Belfairs (31.2)
  • Lee Chapel South and Kingswood (30.1)
  • Eastwood (28.7)
  • West Shoebury (28.5)
  • Shoebury (25)
  • Kursaal (24.3)

Low rates across the region coincide with the reopening of non essential shops, pub gardens, gyms and hairdressers across England today.

Despite optimism and excitement and the easing of lockdown rules, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for people to “behave responsibly”.

The need for continued vigilance has also been underlined by former Government chief scientific adviser Sir David King, who highlighted a surge in cases in Chile despite a successful vaccination campaign.

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He told Sky News: “From the point of view of the population itself, we’re all dying to get out of lockdown.

“From the point of view of the epidemic, I think it’s all a little bit more worrying.”

He added: “Chile is a country where the rate of vaccination amongst the population was third highest in the world – they were ahead of us in terms of the number of people who have had the vaccine – and they’re suddenly now into a third wave.”

Modelling by Government advisers in the UK has suggested that Monday’s relaxation will not result in a surge of cases that would put pressure on the NHS, but it is “highly likely” that there will be a further resurgence in hospital admissions and deaths after subsequent steps along the road map out of lockdown.