COVID- 19 Infection rates across the region in Thurrock have dropped by more than 40 per cent in a week.

That reflects a similar situation across wider Essex which had been experiencing a new infection level of 5.8 people having the virus per 100,0000 in the week to June 24, but this has now dropped to 3.5 infected people per 100,000 in the week ending June 30. That's a drop of 39.5 per cent.

In Thurrock it went from 12.2 to 7 – a drop of 42.8 per cent.

Rolling seven day averages for Covid-19 deaths in mid and south Essex – incorporating Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals is now at 1.25 – the lowest it has been since March 23.

The downward trend comes ahead of the reopening of restaurants, pubs, cafés, cinemas and other businesses tomorrow (Saturday, 4 July) which will be allowed to welcome customers for the first time since lockdown began in March.

However, life inside these businesses is likely to be different to what we're all used to.

Restaurants, pubs and cafés will have to begin offering more table service and limit the amount of people inside to reduce the chances of spreading coronavirus.

The government has made it clear however that local lockdowns will be necessary to keep the disease under control if local spikes are seen to be running out of control.