The Covid infection rate has continued to rise in Colchester quadrupling in three weeks. 

Latest data shows the borough now has an infection rate of 200.3 cases per 100,000 people. 

In the seven days to July 2 there were 390 new cases confirmed. 

In the week previously the rate was 134 cases per 100,000 people with 261 cases recorded. 

In comparison in the week to June 11 Colchester's average infection rate was 43.1 cases per 100,000 people when 84 cases were reported. 

The borough has the third highest infection rate in Essex, with Harlow and Uttlesford having higher rates. 

Castle Point has the lowest infection rate in the county with 102.9 cases per 100,000 people. 

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Of the 315 local areas in England 99 per cent have seen a rise in infection rates. 

All parts of Essex continue to have average infection rates below the England average of 239.3 cases per 100,000 people.

Here are the average infection rates of each part of Essex compared with a week earlier:

  • Harlow: 219.4, (191) - 77.0, (67)
  • Uttlesford: 211.4, (193) - 93.1, (85)
  • Colchester: 200.3, (390) - 134.0, (261)
  • Epping Forest: 199.0, (262) - 72.9, (96)
  • Chelmsford: 188.9, (337) - 75.1, (134)
  • Braintree: 157.9, (241) - 59.0, (90)
  • Basildon: 150.6, (282) - 62.0, (116)
  • Southend-on-Sea: 142.5, (261) - 67.7, (124)
  • Tendring: 111.2, (163) - 32.1, (47)
  • Maldon: 110.9, (72) - 57.0, (37)
  • Thurrock: 103.2, (180) - 45.9, (80)
  • Castle Point: 102.9, (93) - 40.9, (37)

South Tyneside in the North East has the highest rate, with 1,156 new cases in the seven days to July 2, the equivalent of 765.7 per 100,000 people.

This is up from 282.2 in the seven days to June 25.

Tamworth in Staffordshire has the second highest rate, up from 319.4 to 751.0, with 576 new cases.

Newcastle upon Tyne has the third highest rate, up from 442.8 to 725.8, with 2,198 new cases.

It comes as more than 79 million people have now received a first dose of the vaccine, with almost 34 million fully vaccinated.

England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said the vaccine rollout and attempts to suppress coronavirus infection rates must go “hell for leather” in order to prevent a significant increase in long Covid.

Speaking at the Local Government Association’s conference he said: “Since there’s a lot of Covid at the moment and the rates are going up, I regret to say I think we will get a significant amount more long Covid, particularly in the younger ages where the vaccination rates are currently much lower.”