NEW figures show the spread of coronavirus across south Essex has slowed, with each district recording a fall in the number of confirmed cases over the most recent seven-day period. 

The figures, for the seven days to October 31, are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community.

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

Data for the most recent four days (November 1-4) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

In Basildon, the rolling rate has dropped from 152.8 seven days ago, to 118.6 after 222 cases were confirmed. That is a drop from 286 cases in the week prior. 

In Southend, the first drop in weeks was recorded as the rate was cut to 88.5, from 92.8 after 162 new cases were confirmed. That is a drop from 170 cases in the week prior. 

Castle Point has recorded a its second significant drop in as many days, from 139.4 to 83.0. That's after 75new cases were confirmed in the last seven days, compared to 126 in the previous seven days.

In Rochford, the rate dropped from 83.6 to 80.1, with 70 new cases confirmed in the last week - a drop from 73 the week before. 

In Thurrock, too, the rate has continued to fall. There, it dropped from 172.1 to 140. In terms of new cases, 244 were recorded in the last week, set against 300 in the previous week. 

For comparison, Oldham has the highest rate in England, with 1,759 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 31 – the equivalent of 741.8 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 675.6 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to October 24.

Blackburn with Darwen is in second place with its rate falling from 781.6 to 706.1, with 1,057 new cases.

Wigan has the third highest rate, up from 659.6 to 673.3, with 2,213 new cases.

Other areas recording big jumps in case rates include:

  • Hull (up from 286.4 to 432.7, with 1,124 new cases);
  • Newcastle-under-Lyme (up from 281.2 to 418.7, with 542 new cases); and
  • Dudley (up from 231.0 to 355.4, with 1,143 new cases)