SOARING cases of Covid-19 in north Essex has pushed coronavirus patient numbers to more than 50 per cent higher than in the spring peak. According to the latest figures from the East Suffolk and North Essex Trust, which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals, there were 212 patients with Covid-19 at the trust as of December 22. This is up from 169 a week previously - an increase of about 25 per cent. This is more than the trust had during any point in April, where the highest number was 143, an increase of 48 per cent. The news comes as the borough’s coronavirus infection rate almost doubled within a week, with almost 800 cases confirmed in the latest seven day period.
NORTH Essex has seen a rise in its coronavirus infection rate with 719 new cases in seven days. The rate of infection in Colchester is now 220.3 cases per 100,000 people with 429 new cases. This is a rise from a rate of 99.1 cases per 100,000 people the week before. In Tendring the rate is now 197.9 with 290 new cases in a seven day period. This is up from a rate of 101.7 the week before. The figures, for the seven days to December 16, are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community. Of the 315 local areas in England, 282 have seen a rise in case rates and 31 saw a fall during the same time period.