The rate of infection in Epping Forest has fallen almost as low as 80 new cases a week per 100,000 residents.

From February 6 – 12 there were just 108 new cases confirmed in the district, which has an approximate population of 130,000.

The rate of infection stands at 82.0, down from 148.8 a week earlier when 196 new infections were recorded.

In Harlow the rate of infection for the seven days to February 12 is down to 139.0 – the equivalent of 121 new cases.

In the seven days to February 5 there were 199 new cases in the town, which has an approximate population of 88,000 – an infection rate of 228.6.

Data for the most recent four days is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 16 have seen a rise in case rates and 299 (95 per cent) have seen a fall.

Middlesbrough has the highest rate in England, with 449 new cases recorded in the seven days to February 12 – the equivalent of 318.5 cases per 100,000 people.