WHILE the average number of people who have contracted the Covid-19 bug in Thurrock is much lower than the national average, the number did rise by 33 in the last 24 period up to yesterday (Thursday, 5 November) morning.

In total, since the pandemic began 1,762 people have been confirmed having had Covid-19 since the pandemic began, , Public Health England figures show.

However, that is a rate of infection in the borough that stands at 1,011 cases per 100,000 people, opposed to the England national average of 1,697.

There have now been 165 deaths in Thurrock. The fatality figure includes those who had had a positive test result for COVID-19 and died within 28 days of the first positive test.

Figures also show that Basildon & Thurrock Hospital has recorded 25 deaths of Covid-19 patients in the week preceding 5pm on Wednesday (3 November), up from 17 the previous week.