THE most up to date coronavirus infection rates for south Essex have been revealed.

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.

The Southend rate was placed at 2.7, with five new cases confirmed in the last seven days, up from 1.6 last week, when three cases were confirmed.

The Basildon rate is 1.1 after two new cases were confirmed, set against 3.2 seven days ago, when six new cases had been confirmed.

In Castle Point, the rate has been cut to 3.3, with three new cases confirmed, compared to 5.5 seven days ago when five cases had been confirmed.

In Rochford, no cases had been confirmed, leaving the rate at zero, down from 1.1 a week ago when one new case had been confirmed.

Today, Public Health England confirmed a further two people had died in hospital having tested positive for Covid-19.

One death was recorded in the east of England while the other was in the north west.

It brings the total number of hospital deaths to 29,458.