IN his latest message to residents the leader of Thurrock Council has warned of the consequences of the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the borough.

Cllr Rob Gledhill says the authority is recording increases in the number of people in Thurrock testing positive,.

He says: "Eight weeks ago we were in the lowest 10 per cent of local authorities for infections, now we're rapidly approaching the middle of the rankings and the rate is increasing week on week. We have the second highest rate of infection among our neighbouring council areas with more than twice the infections of some of the nearest London boroughs.

"I am sure nobody in Thurrock wants to be living in the upper tier local authority with the highest number of positive COVID-19 cases again, so we need to do our utmost to bring these infections down as soon as possible."

And Cllr Gledhill says the problem is being caused by the borough's young age group.

He adds: "To put this in perspective, the number of people under 50 with COVID-19 is over three times higher than all those aged over 50 combined. We currently have 25 educational establishments that have an outbreak or are recovering from one.

"As autumn comes around and the weather gets colder, respiratory illnesses, like coronavirus, spread more easily. We only need to look at what happened at this time last year to see the risks that we face.

"The big difference between now and then is the availability of vaccines. They are safe and effective and the most important action we can take to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities. Quite simply put, the more people that get vaccinated, the safer we all are and the less risk there is that tough measures to curb the rate of infection will have to be introduced.

"Vaccines are safe and easily available either by booking an appointment or at nearby walk-in centres, where no appointment is required and you can simply turn-up and get either a first or second dose of the vaccine.

"It is also vital that older people who have been contacted to tell them that it is time for a booster vaccine follow the instructions they have been sent, make an appointment and get the booster. It is the best way to make sure they stay protected and safer throughout autumn and winter.

"We all need to keep looking out for each other and doing all we can to slow and halt the rate of infection. Regular twice weekly testing is still key and is more important than ever for school pupils. Remember you could still face a fine if you do not self-isolate if you get a positive test result.

"Even though the legal requirement for social distancing and wearing face-coverings has been relaxed, it would still be a good idea to practise these measures in indoor public spaces and on public transport, and to respect the decisions of others that choose to wear them."