As cases of Covid-19 continue to rise across the UK, a handful of neighbourhoods in Kent have seen a fall over the last week.

Latest government figures show Kent has recorded 5,950 new cases in the seven days to October 18, an increase of 1,201 on the previous week and up by 25.3%. Medway had 897 new cases, up by 121 (15.6%).

The infection rates for Kent and Medway over the week - 374.4 and 321.3 per 100,000 of the population - remain below the UK average of 476.3.

The county has now recorded nearly quarter of a million cases - 189,078 in Kent and 38,934 in Medway making a total of 228,012.

While the number of new Covid cases continues to show an increase in all of the county's districts - amid calls by some scientists for tighter restrictions as Christmas approaches - 16 neighbourhoods in the county have seen a fall of more than 20% over the same period.

These are:

Canterbury district

Central Canterbury & Westgate: 11 new cases (18 fewer than previous week, -62.1%)

Herne Bay South & Broomfield: 15 new cases (5 fewer, -23.8%)

Sturry & Fordwich: 6 new cases (2 fewer, -25%)

Dover

Deal East: 7 new cases (5 fewer, -41.7%)

Mill Hill, Upper Deal & Northbourne: 27 new cases (8 fewer, -22.9%)

Folkestone

Folkestone Central: 8 new cases (7 fewer, -46.7%)

Hawkinge: 27 new cases (8 fewer, -22.9%)

Gravesham

Sole Street & Vigo: 22 new cases (9 fewer, -29%)

Maidstone

Ringlestone & Central Maidstone: 33 new cases (-15 fewer, 31.2%)

Medway

Chatham Central & Rochester Riverside: 18 new cases (7 fewer, -28%)

Gillingham South East: 12 new cases (10 fewer, -45.5%)

Rainham South East: 12 new cases (4 fewer, -25%)

Twydall: 16 new cases (10 fewer, -38.5)

Tonbridge and Malling

Hadlow & East Peckham: 21 new cases (11 fewer, -34.4%)

Snodland: 20 (12 fewer, 37.5%)

Tunbridge Wells

Hawkhurst, Benenden & Sandhurst: 15 new cases (13 fewer, -46.4%)

Despite some areas recording a fall in the number of new cases, concern mounts over increasing number of infections.

The latest figures come as a prominent adviser to the government on Covid-19 has said he is “very fearful” there will be another “lockdown Christmas” and urged the public to do everything possible to reduce transmission of the virus.

Professor Peter Openshaw, a member of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), said case numbers and death rates are currently “unacceptable”.

He said measures such as working from home and mask wearing are vitally important to control the spread of Covid.

The expert’s warning comes after the Prime Minister resisted calls from health leaders for tighter restrictions despite the rising levels of infections.

In more hopeful news, an estimated 5.3 million booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been delivered in the UK, new figures show.

In the first time data on boosters has been reported by all four nations, a total of 4,524,517 doses have been delivered in England, along with 429,801 in Scotland, 322,591 in Wales and 43,536 in Northern Ireland.

It means around one in nine people in the UK who have received a first and second dose of vaccine are likely to have also received a booster.

In Kent, 74.2% of people have now received two jabs, just ahead of Medway on 70.7%.

Read more: All the latest news for Kent