The coronavirus infection rate continues to drop across south Essex as the area looks to put the pandemic behind it. 

Each day, the Government publishes a rolling seven-day rate based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Last night, the Southend rate was placed at 1.1, with two new cases, down from 3.3 seven days earlier, when there were six new cases. 

In Basildon, the rate has more than halved and now sits at 2.1, with four new cases, down from 5.9 seven days ago, when 11 new cases were confirmed.

Castle Point also registered a drop, with the rate being placed at 3.3, with three new cases confirmed, set against 6.6 a week ago, when six new cases were confirmed. 

In Rochford, the rate has risen slightly, to 2.3, with two new cases confirmed. That is up from 1.1 a week ago, when one new case had been confirmed. 

For context, in troublesome areas, such as Blackburn with Darwen, the rate has fallen from 91.5 cases per 100,000 people to 80.2. A total of 120 new cases have been recorded.

Pendle is in second place, where the seven-day rate has jumped from 38.0 to 61.9, with 57 new cases.

Oldham is third, where the rate has risen slightly from 57.8 to 61.2, with 145 new cases.

The rate in Leicester continues to fall, down slightly from 58.7 to 56.2, with 199 new cases.

Other areas reporting notable week-on-week jumps include:

- Swindon (up from 23.4 to 48.2, with 107 new cases)

- Calderdale (up from 30.3 to 39.3, with 83 new cases)

- Manchester (up from 25.1 to 32.6, with 180 new cases)

- Tameside (up from 16.8 to 26.9, with 61 new cases)