NEARLY 30 wards across south Essex have Covid rates among the worst in the country, latest figures show.

The Government's interactive Covid map breaks down each area and colour codes them depending on how many cases there are.

There are 27 areas in south Essex coloured black which means the case rate for this area is more than 1,600 cases per 100,000 people.

Read more >> The five areas of Essex with some of the highest Covid rates in the UK

This is the highest the chart goes.

The figures are for the seven days to December 23, the latest data available. 

They are:

  • Leigh – 253 cases, rate of 2,459.2
  • Bursteads – 150 cases, rate of 2,138
  • West Leigh – 197 cases, rate of 2,082.7
  • Wickford South – 199 cases, rate of 2,020.1
  • Rochford Outer & Hawkwell East – 167 cases, rate of 2,004.3
  • Laindon West & Southfields – 185 cases, rate of 1,982
  • Chalkwell – 203 cases, rate of 1,952.3
  • Rochford Town & Canewdon – 119 cases and rate of 1,947
  • Rayleigh North West – 174 cases, rate of 1,891.3
  • Southchurch – 186 cases, rate of 1,864.3
  • Laindon Central – 188 cases, rate of 1,857.5
  • Belfairs – 177 cases, rate of 1,831.4
  • Whitmore Way & Fremnells – 170 cases, rate of 1,796.3
  • Great Wakering & Foulness – 141 cases, rate of 1,786.4
  • Wickford West – 130 cases, rate of 1,777.9
  • St Lukes – 198 cases, rate of 1,762
  • Rayleigh North East – 143 cases, rate of 1,734.6
  • Westborough – 194 cases, rate of 1,731.4
  • Steeple View & Noak Bridge – 154 cases, rate of 1,713.6
  • Rayleigh South West – 152 cases, rate of 1,711.5
  • Eastwood Park – 161 cases, rate of 1,708.2
  • Wickford Shotgate – 141 cases, rate of 1,697.2
  • Lee Chapel South & Kingswood – 172 cases, rate of 1,679.5
  • Victoria – 218 cases, rate of 1,673.7
  • Blenheim Park – 182 cases, rate of 1,631
  • Rayleigh South East – 132 cases, rate of 1,629.2
  • Canvey Island North – 138 cases, rate of 1,622.2