There was a time, during the summer heatwave, that Southend's beaches were covered with sunworshippers and many feared it would inevitably lead to a potentially deadly early second wave for the borough.

But thankfully that has not come to pass. 

One reason for those days of packed beaches in the summer not resulting in a spike, we now know, is because the spread of the virus is much-reduced outside. It is exponentially more likely to spread indoors, with little or no ventilation. 

Indeed since the easing of the first lockdown, Southend's rate of infection has remained consistently below 100 cases per 100,000 population.

Echo: Packed - the summer heatwave drove thousands to Southend's beachesPacked - the summer heatwave drove thousands to Southend's beaches

That threshold - prior to the decision to place England into a four-week national lockdown - was widely acknowledged to be where an area would move from tier 3, or medium, restrictions, to tier 2, or high alert. 

According to the most recent figures available - to October 31 - Southend's coronavirus rate appears to have plateaued and perhaps even begun to fall. 

On October 26, the rate recorded was a record high, with 96.7. Although the reality is testing has been vastly increased since the spring so the figures for that period are widely acknowledged to be the tip of the iceberg. 

But since October 26, there has been a consisten fall, with the rate on October 31 dropping below 90.0. 

Echo:

Southend's coronavirus rate grew rapidly from the beginning of September

It is probably too early to tell whether the graph (above) is genuinely on a downward curve but the initial figures are promising. 

Indeed the point is strengthened when we look at the number of new cases on the seven-day rolling mechanism - rather than the rate - (below). Indeed October 26 is again singled out as a record high, with 177 recorded in the seven days leading up. 

Echo:

The cautious good news comes as the Essex County Council area was handed a glimmer of hope as the latest official figures showed the county’s coronavirus infection rate had fallen for the first time since August.

In the seven days to October 29, there were 1,482 confirmed cases of Covid-19. 

Echo:

High alert - Essex moved into tier 2 restrictions just over three weeks ago

As of October 29, the weekly case rate, which is the number of cases recorded in the last seven days per 100,000 population for Essex is 99.5, a decrease from 107.9 in the previous week.

Although England was plunged into a four-week lockdown on Thursday, it is now three weeks since Essex moved into the higher tier Covid-19 restrictions.

This restricted groups and families meeting up.

The rate of infection has dropped in Basildon, Rochford and Castle Point, with Basildon going from 145.8 per 100,000 to 137.3, Rochford 78.9 to 77.8, and Castle Point dropping massively from 151.5 to 68.6.