CORONAVIRUS infections are falling again across the whole of south Essex, new figures show.

The number of new cases in Southend and Thurrock in the past week has reduced by more than 100, while there had been a similarly large drop in Basildon and Castle Point.

The latest data for the week ending September 14 shows:

  • Basildon recorded 396 new cases

That was down by 86 (18%) from the week before

  • Castle Point recorded 186 new cases

That was down by 56 (23%)

  • Rochford recorded 209 new cases

That was down by 29 (12% down)

  • Southend recorded 442 new cases

That was down by 131 (23%)

  • Thurrock recorded 405 new cases

That was down by 164 (29%)

It comes as the Office for National Statistics has found Covid-19 case rates during the third wave in England were higher among people born in the UK.

Experimental statistics from the ONS show that from September 1 last year until May 22, people not born in the UK had an estimated age-standardised Covid-19 case rate of 205.2 cases per 100,000 population on average each week, also known as 100,000 person-weeks.

This compared to a rate of 172.6 for people born in the UK.

But in the third wave, from May 23 up to July 25, the estimated rate for people born in the UK was an average of 225.0 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 146.1 for those born abroad.

The ONS said: “Overall, during the second wave, case rates were higher for people born outside of the UK than those born in the UK, at 205.2 cases per 100,000 person-weeks compared with 172.6 cases.

“However, during the first part of the second wave (September 2020 to early December 2020), those born in the UK had higher case rates than those born outside of the UK.

“Later in the second wave, particularly from December 2020 through to February 2021, rates were higher among those born outside of the UK.

“During the third wave, rates were higher among those born in the UK.”

The figures, published on Monday, are based on positive tests from NHS Test and Trace data in England between September 1 2020 and July 25 2021 linked to the ONS’ Public Health Data Asset database.

The figures also show that during the second wave, Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnic groups had the highest estimated average rates at 390.6 and 378.1 cases per 100,000 person-weeks respectively.

But during the third wave, case rates were highest in the White British ethnic group at 234.7 cases per 100,000 population on average each week.