People who test positive for coronavirus in Essex can now apply for additional money to help them self-isolate.

Essex County Council has obtained £3m from the government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund to support people ineligible for the government’s one-off two-week self-isolation payment of £500.

This could be because they are on zero hours contracts, self-employed and trading for less than one year or self-employed without access to support because of low trading returns.

Residents can apply through their local council via www.essex.gov.uk/test-and-trace-support-payment.

Cllr John Spence, cabinet member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “Throughout this pandemic we have emphasised the need to test and self-isolate. Now with the picture of rising rates we see this has never been of greater importance.

“Essex County Council wants to help people to self-isolate without fear that self-isolation will worsen their personal finances. That is why we have secured these funds from the Government.”