Covid cases in Epping and Harlow decreased last week - although deaths in Epping shot up compared with figures from the previous week.

The latest data published by the Government for the seven days to September 21 show there were 41 new cases in the boroughs – down from 412 the previous week.

Five deaths were reported in Epping between 15 September and 21 September, compared to one the previous week - in Harlow no deaths were reported.

In Epping 86,302 people have been given their second dose of the coronavirus vaccine by September 20, with 54,668 people in Harlow.

At the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, which covers Harlow and Epping Forest, there were 21 patients suffering from Covid, with three on ventilators recorded September 14.

In Barts Healthcare Trust, which covers nearby Waltham Forest, there were 138 patients in hospital with coronavirus and 29 patients on a ventilator on 14 September.

The figures, which have been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show that 160,374 deaths involving coronavirus have occurred in the UK since the pandemic began.

This includes all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.

They are a more comprehensive measure of deaths than the numbers published daily by the Government, which count only those who died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus, and which currently stands at a total of 135,252.