Coronavirus infection rates in the UK are now at their highest level since mid-April, new figures shows.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics shows around one in 640 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to May 2.

This was up from one in 1,120 in the previous week.

A rise in rates had led to many experts and scientists called for the final relaxation of lockdown rules to be pushed back beyond the planned date of June 21.

Officials say the coronavirus reproduction number, or R value, in England is between 1 and 1.2, according to the latest Government figures.

Last week, it was between 1 and 1.1.

R represents the average number of people each Covid-19 positive person goes on to infect.

An R number between 1 and 1.2 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 10 and 12 other people – meaning Covid is spreading again, not shrinking.

Despite the worrying increase in cases, infection rates in south Essex remain low.

However, three of the five boroughs and districts have seen a rise in cases in the past week.

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In Southend, there were 24 cases in the week ending May 30 – up from 19 seven days before.

Cases also rose to 19 in Basildon in that period – up from 10 – and 27 cases were recorded in Thurrock. That was up from 16 the week before.

Rochford saw five new cases recorded, the same as the seven days previously, while there were two fewer in Castle Point, where only five new cases were announced.

The neighbourhoods currently highlighted on the coronavirus hotspots map include:

  • Kursaal
  • Victoria
  • Westborough
  • Leigh
  • West Leigh
  • Lee Chapel South and Kingswood
  • Corringham North and London Gateway

None of the above areas recorded an infection rate higher than 45 cases per 100,000 people.

All other areas recorded fewer than three new Covid cases in the week ending May 30.