Surging coronavirus rates forced the UK into new strict restrictions today as the number of those infected trebled in a week.
The draconian new Tier 4 restrictions were implemented as southern areas were hit hard by a new virus strain. Of the 315 local areas in England, 282 saw a rise in case rates this week, 31 have seen a fall and two are unchanged.
Thurrock has the highest rate in the country after seeing the largest week-on-week jump in England, with 1,676 new cases recorded in the seven days to December 15.
This is up from 349.9 in the seven days to December 9. Basildon in Essex has the second highest rate, up from 566.2 to 924.7, with 1,731 new cases, and Havering in London is in third place, where the rate has risen from 473.5 to