ANOTHER coronavirus-related death has been recorded in a Braintree district care home.

It takes the total number of fatalities linked to the virus in the district to 119.

The Office for National Statistics said the death was recorded in the week ending July 24.

There have now been 24 deaths linked to Covid-19 recorded in care homes across the district.

The newly announced fatality in Braintree comes as the infection rate in the district continues to fall following a spike in cases in July.

A total of 88 positive tests were carried out throughout the month, more than five times the 17 cases recorded in June.

Essex County Council said the surge was caused by an outbreak in a care home.

It meant Braintree had one of the highest infection rates in England, with 20.5 cases recorded per 100,000 people.

The rate has now dropped significantly to 4.6 but it remains the joint highest in Essex along with the Epping Forest district.

The total number of positive tests carried out in Braintree since the pandemic began now stands at 511.