The rates of infection in Epping Forest and Harlow have almost tripled in seven days with less than two weeks until most Covid restrictions are lifted.

With an increase in Delta variant cases the rate of infection in the two districts has sky-rocketed in the last two weeks after months of relative stability below the 30 mark.

In Harlow the rate of infection, expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 residents, has shot up to 219.4 after 191 new infections were recorded between June 25 and July 2 – the latest available accurate data.

Just one week earlier the rate of infection was 77 when 67 new cases were recorded in the seven days to June 25.

And In Epping Forest the picture is similar; there were 262 newly recorded cases of Covid-19 in the seven days to July 2, and infection rate of 199.

Seven days prior the infection rate was only 72.9 after 96 new cases were recorded in the district.

Dr Mike Gogarty, Essex’s director of public health, has labelled the increase in cases as ‘expected’ but called for residents to not get complacent.

He said: “The rates of vaccination uptake give me confidence that most people will not get ill or need hospital, but I am worried about people, especially older people or those who may be vulnerable who have still not been vaccinated. The vaccine is really safe and very effective. If you are not vaccinated you will be at risk. I would urge anyone who is still to be vaccinated to discuss their concerns with their GP or with me.”

The surge in cases is being driven by the highly infectious Delta variant.

Public Health England figures show 153 cases of the variant – first identified in India – had been recorded in Epping Forest by June 30.

That was 63 more than the 90 cases recorded the week before.

However, hospitalisations and deaths at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust – which also runs St Margaret’s Hospital and Essex Hospital – have yet to spike dramatically.

There has been a slight rise in the seven-day average of Covid related hospitalisations. Throughout the whole of May that average never rose above 0.5 but is currently around one and has spiked up to 1.5 in recent weeks.

The trust, which has posted 539 total deaths over the course of the pandemic, has not reported a single death in June with the last death of a coronavirus patient in its care being dated May 30.

Health bosses have often said hospitalisations lag about two weeks behind cases, but while the Delta variant now accounts for around 9 per cent of new cases sequenced in the UK, the number of people being hospitalised with the infection is not rising proportionally.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: "The data suggest this is testament to the success of the vaccination programme so far and clearly demonstrates the importance of getting both doses of the vaccine.

"Come forward as soon as you are eligible. It will help us to break the chain of transmission, and it will save lives."

Of the 315 local areas in England 99 per cent have seen a week-on-week rise in rates as we approach the Prime Minister’s latest ‘freedom day’.

From July 19 mask-wearing will no longer be a legal requirement under the plans, nor will social distancing in most cases, and nightclubs will be able to reopen.