Several neighbourhoods across Colchester and the surrounding areas are nearly Covid free as infection rates continue to drop.

The number of coronavirus cases being recorded has fallen significantly during England’s third national lockdown, with every district in Essex now seeing an infection rate of under 100 cases per 100,000 population.

And with the rate of infection still falling, there are encouraging signs of a promising easing of the lockdown in the coming weeks.

With residents still playing their part in trying to stop the spread of the virus, some wards have now nearly eliminated the virus.

A map compiled using Government data shows the number of Covid cases in the week to March 11.

Gazette:

Areas that are covered in white are known as ‘suppressed’ areas as there are fewer than three cases in the ward – the data is not shown to protect people’s identities.

Six parts of Colchester are currently in this category - Central Colchester; West Bergholt and Wormingford; Horkesley Heath, Langham and Dedham; Stanway; Monkwick; and Layer-de-la-Haye, Abberton & Mersea East.

Parson's Heath has seen by far the highest number of cases with 26 in this week.

Here are the latest number of cases per area:

  • Parson's Heath - 26
  • Greenstead - seven
  • Abbey Field - seven
  • Lexden - six
  • Shrub End - five
  • Wivenhoe & University - five
  • Mile End & Braiswick - five
  • New Town & Hythe - four
  • Highwoods - four
  • West Mersea - three
  • Tiptree - three
  • Old Heath & Rowhedge - three
  • Central Colchester - less than three
  • West Bergholt & Wormingford - less than three
  • Horkesley Heath, Langham & Dedham - less than three
  • Stanway - less than three
  • Monkwick - less than three
  • Layer-de-la-Haye, Abberton & Mersea East - less than three

Colchester's average infection rate in the week to March 12 was 45.2 cases per 100,000 people.

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There were 88 cases confirmed in the borough during this week.

Tendring's infection rate was 22.5 cases per 100,000 people in this period, down from 54.6 cases per 100,000 people a week earlier.