A request for Essex to moved into the 'high' alert tier of coronavirus restrictions has been lodged with the Government.

It would mean a ban on households mixing in any indoor setting but the Rule of Six would still apply outdoors.

People would also be discouraged from making any journeys which are not deemed essential, including using public transport.

A final decision is not expected until Thursday. If the Government gives the request the go-ahead, the restrictions could be in place as early as this weekend, though more likely early next week.

Essex County Council leader David Finch said: "We have seen high levels of compliance from Essex businesses and residents to the government’s Covid measures. Although cases in Essex have stayed well below the national average - and we have avoided interventions like those seen elsewhere - the numbers are rising once more.

Echo:

Honest assessment - David Finch

"We must now face the challenge of the second wave of the virus, which is very much with us. In Essex, we are now seeing exponential growth, with cases now roughly doubling every week across the county.

"Based on a detailed analysis of the increase in case numbers, we believe it will only be a matter of weeks before Essex enters Tier 2 of the Government’s new ‘traffic light’ restrictions.

"It is also our conclusion, based on the data, that moving earlier to Tier 2 restrictions would limit the impacts on case numbers, the NHS, and the local economy, by flattening the curve of cases, and enabling them to reduce more quickly as we move toward the end of the year."

Mr Finch admitted the move would mean "further restrictions on day to day life" adding: "We have not made this request lightly and we hope that the Secretary of State and his advisors agree with our analysis of the situation here. We have no wish to impact lives or livelihoods any more than we need to. But our conclusion is, if we take this action now, we can prevent more serious impacts in the weeks to come."

He added: "We have worked hard and we are prepared; we are ready to go again to support the vulnerable. We are ready with PPE and support for care homes, we are ready to support the NHS to deal with an increase in cases.