THE rate of infection in Essex now stands at 364 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 443.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 512 over the period, to 288,133.

Essex's cases were among the 23,603 recorded across the East of England, a figure which rose by 40 over the period.

Public Health England figures show that 5,383 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday (July 10) in Essex, up from 5,371 the same time on Thursday.

The health body is now including Pillar 2 tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar 1 tests, which are analysed in NHS or PHE laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.