EIGHTEEN parts of south Essex have been removed from the Government’s Covid hotspots map after reporting fewer than three Covid cases in a week.

Relieved council and public health bosses have welcomed the latest figures, but insist now is not the time to relax as the battle to contain Covid-19 goes on.

As children return to classrooms today, council bosses are urging people to continue to stay alert and maintain testing to “maintain these gains”.

Independent councillor Trevor Harp, Southend cabinet member for health and adult social care said: “That’s very welcome news but what I would ask is that people do continue to follow restrictions so we can keep it at that level.

“It’s going to be very important with schools returning.

“It’s all about maintaining these gains that we have made.

“If we maintain these gains it makes it far easier to stick to the roadmap as we go forward.

“I would urge everyone not to relax at this stage. I would encourage people to carry on getting tested now we have got at this level as any cases we can identify and isolate will be a great benefit in reducing the spread.”

Areas that are almost free from the virus include council wards in Hullbridge, Belfairs, Eastwood Park, Benfleet North and Canvey Island South.

Belfairs ward councillor Stephen Aylen believes this will come as a huge relief to the largely elderly population in the Belfairs area of Leigh.

He said: “It’s nice to know that we’re Covid free and I’m sure residents will be very happy.

“The only thing I’m worried about is that people drop their guard.

“Yes we’re Covid free but we’ve got to stay Covid free.

“I’m extremely pleased and it will be a real relief to residents. but we have got to make sure we don’t drop our guard.”

Eastwood Park Lib Dem councillor Paul Collins is urging parents to do their part in testing their children as they go back to school.

Mr Collins added: “It’s great to hear but we need to keep our guard up.

“We have got schools going back and I know a lot of people are concerned.

“We’ve got to be cautious because we have children going to schools across Essex.”

He stressed: We need parents and children to keep testing.”