Two areas of the district have seen a spike in Covid cases as the Indian variant has been found in Essex.

Witham Town and Flitch Green, Felsted and High Easter have both seen a spike in cases in the last seven days.

Flitch Green, Felsted & High Easter has recorded a total of five cases whilst Witham Town has recorded three.

However, the rest of the district records a much lower infection rate at 11.1 and 17 new cases.

All other areas have recorded less than three, meaning the virus is classed as "suppressed" in these areas.

They are not recorded on the hotspot map any longer.

The infection rate for the whole district stands at an average of 7.1.

This comes as Essex County Council's director of public health Dr Mike Gogarty said cases of the Indian variant have been found in Chelmsford.

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Lockdown restrictions were eased further today after Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the go-ahead for further relaxations. 

Everyone will be able to enjoy food and drink inside with the reopening of indoor hospitality, while friends and relatives are given the choice on whether to socially distance from one another. 

Gatherings inside homes are permitted once again, with a limit of up to six people or two households meeting indoors.

A return to indoor museums, cinemas, restaurants and pubs has also been given the green light– and this time without any 10pm curfews.