ESSEX County Council has begged Boris Johnson to raise their coronavirus tier higher – to bring in more restrictions for its residents.

Today the council formally asked the Government to increase their current Medium status to High in the new three-tier system.

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This would mean household would not be able to mix indoors, on top of the standard "rule of six" and hospitality closures at 10pm.

It is thought to be the only local authority in the county to have asked for less freedoms.

Its 1.4million residents would be forced to only mix with other households, within a group of six, outside if they got their way.

It comes as the number of coronavirus cases in Essex has risen from around 700 in the week up to October 2 to more than 1,000 in the week up to October 9.

Senior local authority figures from across the county have drafted a joint request for the Department of Health to move the region from the medium tier.

David Finch, leader at the Tory-led council, told the BBC: "By acting now, we can hope to stem this increase, limiting the time that we are in these enhanced restrictions and – above all – avoiding further escalation into Very High.

"All of this will limit the damage to the economy. A healthy economy is critical to everyone having better lives in future.

"Making these painful decisions now will, we hope, bring dividends later."

It is feared 75 per cent of intensive care beds in Essex could be filled with Covid patients in under six weeks if action is not taken.

Basildon has become the worst-hit area of Essex, with 63 cases per 100,000 people, according to the latest data.

Two additional coronavirus deaths were also recorded at Basildon Hospital.

It has seen a 12 per cent increase in cases since the beginning of the month – with 1,237 total cases.

Uttlesford has also seen an increase with a 16.7 per cent increase in the same period – jumping from 442 to 516 confirmed infections.

And Rochford's coronavirus rate has doubled, with 37 cases per 100,000 compared to 18 the week before.

By acting now, we can hope to stem this increase, limiting the time that we are in these enhanced restrictions and – above all – avoiding further escalation into Very High.

It comes just one day after PM Boris Johnson announced the three tiered approach in a bid to stamp out the spread of coronavirus.

The PM said that Britain was entering a "new and crucial fight" after he unveiled his new three tier lockdown system to fight the deadly bug.

It comes after he rejected the idea of a full national lockdown, saying he did not "want to go down that extreme route right now".

Acknowledging the growing number of infections across the UK, he said: "These figures are flashing at us like dashboard warnings in a passenger jet and we must act now."

Mr Johnson's new three-tier system revealed areas of England will be ordered into “medium”, “high” and “very high” alert levels.

Under the "very high" tier, it will be illegal to break any of the restrictions.

Gavin Callaghan, the leader of Basildon Council, said: "It is continuing to rise and if we were to do nothing, then 75 per cent of intensive care beds in Essex would be filled with Covid patients in four to five weeks' time."

"We cannot risk anyone who falls ill, not having access to a ICU bed, treatment or ventilator.

"So we will need to go again in supporting our brilliant NHS."

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