THE Braintree district now has the lowest coronavirus infection rate in Essex after seeing a drop in cases in the last week.

The latest data shows the region has an infection rate of 26.9 cases per 100,000 people, down from 34.1 the week before.

There have been 41 cases of Covid-19 recorded in the district in the last seven days, 11 fewer than the 52 recorded between September 29 and October 5.

It means the Braintree area has the lowest infection rate in Essex, with the county average standing at 42.8.

The worst affected area is now Tendring where 85 cases have been confirmed in the past week.

Concerns over the infection rate in Uttlesford have eased after the region's infection rate dropped to 41.6 - down from 65 last week.

Public Health England's coronavirus hotspots map shows the worst affected areas in the Braintree district are central Braintree and the Notleys, with each recording eight cases between October 1 and 7.

The areas highlighted on the map are:

  • Central Braintree - 8
  • Great Notley and Black Notley - 8
  • Rayne and West Braintree - 6
  • Coggeshall and Kelvedon - 6
  • Steeple Bumpstead and Great Yeldham - 6
  • Panfield, Finchingfield and Bradfield - 5
  • Witham Town - 3
  • Halstead Central and West - 3

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce a new three-tier lockdown system later on Monday to address concerns over the rising infection rate across the country.