After a week of showing no Covid areas across the whole of the Braintree district, one new cluster has returned to the hotspot map. 

Silver End and Stisted has returned to the Government Covid hotspot map after recording three cases in the seven days leading up to June 1.

All other areas have recorded less than three cases in the last seven days and the virus is classes as "suppressed" in these areas.

They are not recorded on the Covid hotspots map any longer.

The infection rate across the district has risen slightly and now stands at 9.8 per 100,000 people, 

A total of 15 cases have been recorded in the last seven days. 

However, no further cases of the Indian variant have been recorded in Braintree, according to Public Health England. 

The health body has been tracking the spread of the B.1.617.2 mutation – which originated in India – by testing positive Covid-19 cases across the country for an "S-gene".

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A two-week delay to the planned easing of lockdown restrictions on June 21 is reportedly being considered after the number of people in the country with Covid-19 rose by 75 per cent.

Multiple reports have also suggested plans to lift restrictions could be scaled down, with social distancing and the wearing of face coverings set to continue amid concerns the Indian variant is fuelling a surge in cases.

The UK on Friday recorded its highest number of new confirmed coronavirus cases – 6,238 – since late March, according to official figures.

The Health Secretary said the Government “always expected cases to rise” as lockdown was eased, and that ministers were being “tough” on international travel rules to preserve the route out of lockdown in the UK by preventing new variants from taking hold.