The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Thurrock jumped by 987 over the weekend, official figures show.
The borough is number one in England for its coronavirus infection rate.
Public Health England figures show that 6,546 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday (December 21) in Thurrock, up from 5,559 the same time on Friday.
The health body is now including Pillar 2 tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar 1 tests, which are analysed in NHS or PHE laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.
The rate of infection in Thurrock now stands at 3,755 cases per 100,000 people, far higher than the England average of 3,149.
Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 96,344 over the period, to 2,073,511.
Thurrock's cases were among the 135,571 recorded across the East of England, a figure which rose by 12,219 over the period.
Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.
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