Confirmed coronavirus infections in Essex have surpassed the 1,000 mark.

As of yesterday (April 8), Public Health England had confirmed 1,081 COVID-19 cases across the county.

A week before, there were 420 cases.

It means cases have increased by 15 per cent over the last 24 hours, higher than the rate of increase across the UK of 10 per cent.

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Epping Forest Guardian:

Cases in Essex have steadily risen over the last week. Photo: Public Health England

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Essex now has the third highest amount of confirmed infections out of all local authorities in the UK, according to the latest figures.

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows, as of 2018, Essex had the second highest population –1,477,764 – of any local authority in the country (excluding metropolitan counties).

Across the UK, 60,733 people had tested positive for coronavirus, up from 55,242 at the same point on Tuesday, Department of Health and Social Care figures show.

In total, 232,708 people had been tested, and so far, 7,097 have died.

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