DESPITE what appears to be a rapidly escalating number of recorded cases of Covid-19 Thurrock Council is standing by its position to keep the borough in Tier One of the coronavirus lockdown system.

Over the seven days leading up to October 24, the latest available figures show that Thurrock has recorded 299 cases of Covid-19.

The infection rate is the second highest across the Essex with 171.5 cases per 100,000, just below Brentwood which has 192.2 cases per every 100,000. Brentwood and much of the rest of Essex under the jurisdiction of Essex County Council, moved to Tier Two last week but Thurrock Council says it believes it would be wrong for Thurrock to do the same.

The latest figures are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community. The data is released by the government and shows the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 in every local authority area in England. It differs slightly from the information put out by Thurrock Council in its latest briefing.

Thurrock Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill has been a staunch advocate of Thurrock sticking at Tier One and he says that is still the right approach.

In his latest statement he says: "Right now Thurrock remains at the lowest possible alert and we all need to play our part to help make sure that we do not have stricter rules imposed on us.

"We cannot afford to be complacent. We could be forced into Tier Two if the situation on the ground in Thurrock warrants it. That is why we need to all pull together to make sure that we keep the rate of infection as low as possible.

"When we took the decision not to join Essex County Council in volunteering to go to a higher alert level we did so because we felt that the risk posed to residents' health and wellbeing and the damage to local business from being subject to greater restrictions outweighed the threat of coronavirus at that time.

"However, with other areas and parts of the NHS sounding their own concerns, it may well be the case that we are subject to greater restrictions.

"Rather than relying on one statistic we have taken a holistic approach. The important statistics we base our advice on are:

1. Number of positive coronavirus tests per 100,000 people
2. Number of people over 60 who currently have coronavirus
3. The number of Thurrock residents currently in Basildon Hospital with COVID-19

"To provide you with the information and context this is the current picture in Thurrock:

"There are 155 positive tests per 100,000 people in Thurrock. Last week just 0.1% of Thurrock's population received a positive test as a result of COVID-19 acquired in the community

"There are 48 people from Thurrock aged over 60 who have tested positive for coronavirus in a care setting. For comparison there were 26 residents who tested positive among over 60s in the community last week

"As of last week only two people were admitted to Basildon Hospital from Thurrock were COVID-19 positive on admission.

"I wish everybody currently suffering from COVID-19 a speedy recovery, obviously we will do all we can to help protect and support the NHS.

"I am sure you will understand that just using the broad number of positive COVID-19 tests per 100,000 is not the most scientific approach. I have explained this to Public Health England East, who liaise with the Secretary of State for Health who will make the final decisions as to which tier Thurrock will be placed.

"I must make very clear if the infection and hospitalisation rates across the board continue to rise it is likely that we will be forced into Tier Two restrictions."