The coronavirus rate of infection has crept up in Kent over the last seven days amid concerns over booking tests in the county.

Public Health England's (PHE) latest figures show that there have been a total of 9,806 Covid cases in Kent, including 1,148 in Medway, since the outbreak of the pandemic early this year.

Kent County Council's public health director Andrew Scott-Clark said there has been a "rise" in Covid infections in the county since the end of August.

Speaking to the council's public health committee earlier today, Mr Scott-Clark said: "We do seem to be seeing more household clusters associated with people returning from travel, particularly Europe."

All students were able to return to school last week and Mr Scott-Clark says there have been reports of "a number" of suspected cases. More than 100 children at two schools in Sittingbourne were told to self-isolate on Monday.

The latest data presented to County Hall's 13-person committee shows the rate of infection in England is around three people per 100,000 while in Kent it is around one person per 100,000.

This is substantially lower than Greater Manchester borough Bolton, which has 120 cases per 100,000 and yesterday faced tight restrictions, including limiting pubs and restaurants to takeaway service.

During the virtual public meeting, Mr Scott-Clark said: "We are in a relatively good place.

"But, as the chart shows, numbers are increasing and that is a timely reminder for the public that the measures around social distancing, hand washing and wearing face masks are absolutely vital.

"If we are to continue controlling this virus at the level in July and August, we need everybody to do that and with no exceptions."

However, concerns continue to be raised about Covid testing in the county.

Margate county councillor Barry Lewis (Lab) questioned how Thanet residents could have confidence in the system when some people have been told to travel 470 miles to Edinburgh in Scotland to get tested.

This comes despite the opening of a drive-thru coronavirus testing site at Manston Airport's car park in Ramsgate two months ago.

Holding up a front page story of the Thanet Extra highlighting the problem, he said: "This is incompetence at its worst."

In response, KCC's public health director said he could not directly address the issues raised by Cllr Lewis, but explained that there had been problems with laboratory capacity "outstripping" testing capacity.

Mr Scott-Clark described this as a national issue, but had been assured the problems would be addressed by the Department of Health and Social Care.

He added: "We have no local control on what happens on those testing sites."

Plans are underway to create a new testing site in Gravesham and Covid walk-in centres in Folkestone and Thanet.

Mr Scott-Clark said residents should only apply for a Covid test if they have symptoms, such as high temperature, cough or lack of smell and taste.

Collectively, local authorities in the South East have written to Public Health England to enroll on the government's revamped NHS contact trace app.

Pleas were also made for older Kent residents to take part in a free flu vaccine this year - around 30 million people aged over 50 - to protect the NHS in the winter months amid fears of Covid second spike.

Mr Scott-Clark said: "The more we can get people vaccinated, the better off we will be in managing a Covid winter."

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