THE number of coronavirus cases in Essex has passed 4,000.

According to the latest Department of Health data, released at 5pm on Thursday, there have been 3,264 confirmed cases in the Essex County Council authority area.

There have been 405 cases in Southend and 339 in Thurrock, meaning Essex has now had a confirmed total 4,008 cases.

Across the UK 281,661 patients have been confirmed to have the virus, an increase of 1,805 on yesterday.

The latest number of deaths in the UK stands at 39,904.