THE coronavirus infection rate in Colchester and Tendring is on the rise as the Government unveils new measures to try and get the virus back under control.

The Covid-19 infection rate in Colchester is now 8.2 cases per 100,000 people, with 16 new cases confirmed in the week ending last Friday.

This is up from 7.7 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to September 11, a period when 15 cases were confirmed.

In Tendring, the infection rate has risen from one of the lowest in the country at 1.4 cases per 100,000 people.

In the week ending on Friday, the district recorded 6.8 cases per 100,000 people, with ten new cases of the virus recorded.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed it is “very difficult” to ask “freedom-loving” Britons to uniformly follow the rules, as he blamed a minority for the increased spread of Covid-19.

He also told MPs the spread of the disease “does tend to happen later at night after more alcohol has been consumed” after he announced a tightening of restrictions, including a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

His remarks came during a lengthy Commons grilling from MPs, who expressed support and concern over the new measures.