The rate of coronavirus infection in Epping Forest shows no signs of slowing as it approaches 100 cases per 100,000 residents.

Between October 5 and 12 – the most up-to-date accurate figures – 115 new cases were confirmed at an infection rate of 87.3 cases per 100,000 population.

The week before there had been 102 new cases in the district which has an approximate population of 120,000 – an infection rate of 77.5.

Data for the most recent four days (October 13-16) is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

In Harlow, the rate of infection also continues to climb and is now over 50 per 100,000 people.

In the seven days to October 12 there were 57 new lab-confirmed cases at a rate of 65.5 from a rate of 40.2 (35 cases) the week prior.

The trust which runs the district’s main hospital, The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, has recorded four coronavirus deaths since September 23 (following four months without a death) with the latest on October 8.

The trust has reported 205 total Covid-related deaths.

Today, NHS England announced the deaths of a further 82 people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals in England to 30,825.

Of the latest confirmed deaths, patients were aged between 35 and 97 years old. All except eight (aged between 49 and 94) had known underlying health conditions.

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