MORE than 60 per cent of Maldon’s population has now received their first Covid jab, new figures reveal.

NHS data shows 36,002 people had received a vaccine by March 28

This equals to 66 per cent of those aged 16 and over, according to the latest population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

Of those vaccinated, 30,203 were aged 50 or over – 95 per cent of the age group.

It means 5,799 people aged between 16 and 49 have received a first dose of the vaccine.

Across England, 25.9 million people aged 16 and over had received their first dose.

The effects of social distancing measures and the vaccine rollout has had a positive effect on the Covid rates in Maldon.

In the seven days leading up to March 27, the infection rate stood at 21.6 per 100,00 with 14 cases.

The areas with the highest rates are Heybridge with 46.8 per 100,000 and Tollesbury, Tolleshunt & Goldhanger with 46.6 per 100,000.