THE reason why Thurrock has been elevated into Tier Three status from tomorrow midnight is encapsulated in the latest figures from the government which show a continuous surge in local cases of Covid-19 being confirmed.

On Sunday (13 December) there were 145 news cases confirmed, taking the total in the borough to 4,264.

However, no new deaths have been reported - with the number of cases of deaths in Thurrock where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate remaining at 216.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced this afternoon (Monday, 14 December) that the news on the spread of the virus "is not good".

He said cases are rising - with an increase of 14 per cent in the last week and London and South Essex among the areas where confirmed cases of Covid-19 are rising the fastest.

In England the average number of new cases reported each day is up to 18,023 and on average each day over the past week 420 deaths have been reported.