THE coronavirus infection rate across north Essex has fallen as the majority of England saw a rise in cases.

The coronavirus infection rate in Colchester stands at 91.4 cases per 100,000 people with 178 new cases confirmed in a week.

This is down from a rate of 104.3 and 203 new cases in the seven days previously.

The figures, for the seven days to November 12, are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community.

In Tendring the infection rate has fallen to 55.9 cases per 100,000 people, with 82 cases confirmed over the same period.

This is down from a rate of 60.7 in the week previously.

Colchester and Tendring were among just 77 areas in England which did not see a rise in the case rate.

Across the country 238 areas had seen a rise.

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Hull has the highest rate in England, with 2,017 new cases recorded in the seven days to November 12 – the equivalent of 776.4 cases per 100,000 people.

Oldham has the second highest rate, which has fallen from 800.5 to 598.0, with 1,418 new cases.

It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock was unable to rule out an extension to the lockdown beyond December 2.

Mr Hancock said it was “too early for us to know” whether coronavirus cases will be brought down sufficiently to ease the second shutdown.

He added: “But we absolutely hope to be able to replace the national lockdown with a tiered system similar to what we had before.”

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However, Susan Hopkins, medical director of Public Health England and chief medical adviser to NHS Test and Trace, said ministers would have to look at “strengthening” the tier system.

Tier 1 restrictions that covered huge parts of England had “very little effect”, she said, adding that even Tier 2 only worked in some areas.

Dr Hopkins said Tier 2 appeared to have worked in some areas.

A map has revealed the most affected parts of Colchester in recent days.

Central Colchester has the most cases with 21 followed by Mile End and Braiswick which had 19.

Old Heath and Rowhedge have 16 cases while Parson’s Heath now have 15.

Other areas have the following:

  • Shrub End - 13
  • Abbey Field, Monkwick, Greenstead and New Town and Hythe - all 11
  • Highwoods, Stanway, Marks Tey and Wakes Colne and Horkesley Heath, Langham and Dedham - all seven
  • West Mersea, and Lexden five
  • Wivenhoe and University, Prettygate and Westlands, West Bergholt and Wormingford and Layer-de-la-Haye, Abberton and Mersea East - all four.