Colchester now has highest Covid infection rate in Essex

According to the data, in the week to May 13, Colchester's average infection rate was 17.5 cases per 100,000 people.

This is because there were 34 cases of Covid confirmed during this week.

The rate has increased from 11.3 cases per 100,000 people a week earlier.

Tendring's average infection rate in the week to May 13 was 15 cases per 100,000 people, up from 14.3 cases per 100,000 people a week earlier.

Colchester now has the highest average infection rate out of all areas across Essex.

Of all the areas in Essex, eight have seen their average rate increase in the latest seven day period.

Here are the infection rates for areas across Essex compared with a week earlier:

• Colchester - 17.5 (34 cases) - 11.3 (22 cases)
• Uttlesford - 15.3 (14 cases) - 25.2 (23 cases)
• Tendring - 15.0 (22 cases) - 14.3 (21 cases)
• Southend-on-Sea - 14.7 (27 cases) - 8.7 (16 cases)
• Basildon - 13.9 (26 cases) - 7.5 (14 cases)
• Chelmsford - 12.9 (23 cases) - 19.6 (35 cases)
• Thurrock - 12.6 (22 cases) - 10.3 (18 cases)
• Braintree - 12.5 (19 cases) - 7.2 (11 cases)
• Maldon - 10.8 (7 cases) - 3.1 (2 cases)
• Epping Forest - 10.6 (14 cases) - 12.1 (16 cases)
• Castle Point - 10.0 (9 cases) - 0.0
• Rochford - 8.0 (7 cases) - 8.0 (7 cases)
• Brentwood - 6.5 (5 cases) - 9.1 (7 cases)

On Monday, Essex County Council urged residents in Chelmsford to get tested after seven cases of the Indian Covid variant were identified in the city.

At present, the variant has been identified in cases within seven households.

The majority of these cases had no obvious link to foreign travel, which means there the strain is likely present in the community.

Read more:

• Covid: Indian variant has been identified in Colchester
• Colchester: Thomas Lord Audley school student tests positive for Covid
• Latest Covid rates for each part of Colchester as lockdown is eased

Targeted PCR testing at locations where individuals from these households are known to have visited will take place.

One case of the variant has also been identified in Colchester, although this has been linked back to international travel.

The Government's hotspots map shows the number of Covid cases in each part of Colchester in the week to May 12.

New data shows Colchester now has highest Covid infection rate in Essex

Only five areas of Colchester recorded three or more cases during this week.

They are:

• New Town & Hythe - 5
• Shrub End - 4
• Prettygate & Westlands - 3
• Mile End & Braiswick - 3
• Highwoods - 3

The rest recorded less than three cases, meaning the virus is classed as "suppressed" in these parts of the borough.