Universities have confirmed 33 more students have tested positive for coronavirus in the past week.

The number of weekly confirmed cases at the University of Kent, which has campuses in Canterbury and Medway, has increased four-fold.

A total of 19 people have tested positive on campus as well as seven students living off campus between yesterday and last Monday - compared with six the previous week.

But despite the rise, a spokesperson at the University of Kent says the numbers remain "comparatively low".

"All those who tested positive, together with their households, are now self-isolating," they said.

"All are being supported and their close contacts have been identified and contacted.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with the local Health Protection Team.

"We continue to remind students and staff to follow government guidance to limit the spread of Covid-19."

Meanwhile, seven students and one member of staff have tested positive during the same period at Canterbury Christ Church University.

Students have spoken of their fears about the rising number of confirmed cases.

University of Kent criminology student Alejandro Javierre, 21, said he is "massively concerned" about the figures.

"I have heard from lots of friends at other universities the rate starts off low and then it starts rising exponentially," he said.

"It is getting a lot worse and it might be partly because some courses haven’t made the switch to all online yet as well.

"I think there was a party police had to attend two weeks ago - it was something ridiculous like 100 people were entering college. There are tons of stories like that."

He also said he fears he will be trapped in Kent at Christmas and will not be able to see his family who live in Liverpool.

Another University of Kent student, Hamish Hallett, 22, also has concerns.

"I was quite surprised seeing how much it had gone up," the politics student said. "I think everything on campus has been reasonably OK - but I have been hearing parties have been going on in certain residences.

"I feel some of the rise in cases might be coming from Freshers Week because there could be a delay. That’s just a theory.

"Everyone has pretty much been social distancing but maybe because campus is busier, that’s why there has been a rise in cases.

"If the cases do go up, I would question why we are on campus and going to classes."

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