Kent is reacting to the announcement England is set for a second national lockdown, as coronavirus cases rise across the country.

Everything bar essential shops and educational institutions will shut for a month from Thursday , with only takeaways and deliveries permitted at pubs and restaurants.

The Prime Minister announced the new measures last night in a delayed address to the nation - and confirmed an extension to the furlough scheme.

Business owners said yesterday before the announcement a second national lockdown would be "a total disaster" .

Now, the leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, has issued a plea to residents to abide by the rules.

"Although the lockdown and new restrictions will be disappointing news for both residents and many businesses, it is imperative everyone follows the latest government guidelines to save lives and protect the NHS," he said.

"I am, however, pleased to hear that the furlough scheme will be extended throughout November, helping to protect local jobs and our economy."

He said Medway had shown "fantastic community spirit" throughout the year and he has no doubt this will continue over the coming weeks.

"The health and wellbeing of our residents is our top priority and we will continue to provide essential council services for our residents," he added.

"Throughout the pandemic we have continued to support the most vulnerable members of our community, and this vital work will continue alongside supporting our residents with critical day-to-day services."

While non-essential businesses will have to close, nurseries, schools, colleges and universities will remain open.

This is something Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins feels is the right decision so long as other youth groups are not overlooked in the process.

Taking to Twitter after last night's announcement, he said: "The government is right to keep schools open, but we should also maintain grassroots youth sport which is so important to the physical and mental health of young people, and can be delivered in a Covid-secure way."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, posted on Twitter to offer his support to the community.

"This is harder than the first wave - let’s be calm, compassionate and courageous," he said.

"May the peace of Jesus Christ, who lived through and always knows our troubles, guard and keep us all.

"And may God guide our leaders in these tough decisions."

Meanwhile, North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale said he and others representing Kent constituencies will continue to press the government to ensure there is sufficient support through "what will be more tough times".

"We have recently seen businesses starting to get back on their feet and people getting used to some sort of normality," he said.

"However even with the majority of people following the government guidance it’s clear that Covid is spreading in excess of the predicted ‘worst case scenario’

"That is why the government has decided, on the basis of the best scientific advice available, to escalate the restrictions upon our work patterns, leisure and movement."

Chatham and Aylesford's MP Tracey Crouch says she shares the disappointment that Kent will have a lockdown given the "comparatively low rates" in the area.

"It absolutely breaks my heart to see friends, neighbours and constituents who run small customer facing operations, such as those in the hair, beauty, leisure and fitness sectors, closing again after struggling to reopen," she posted on Facebook

"If you can buy a voucher or book an appointment for December so they know you are there for them when they return, please do.

"My personal thoughts - this is not what I would have wanted to see but my thirty years old C in GCSE science does not really qualify me to contradict the nation's epidemiological or virological experts.

"I don't want to see the economy crash, businesses and jobs lost but then nor do I want to see constituents, friends, family die because the NHS is overwhelmed by victims of Covid-19."

For one amateur dramatic society, the lockdown could not have come at a worse time and has forced them to cancel all of their shows throughout November and December.

The Sevenoaks Players had planned to perform Back On The Boards - a series of four one-act plays scheduled across seven nights in Otford Village Hall, and Knockholt Village Centre.

Despite only two shows falling within the new lockdown, the group has made the difficult decision to cancel all performances.

The chairman Alex Dunmore says he is gutted but feels it is the right decision during a time of so much uncertainty.

He said: "Although at the moment things are set to open again in December we don't know if this is going to change again.

"With the lockdown, we don't think people will have enough time to rehearse and people understandably don't want to buy tickets at the moment with things changing all the time.

"I feel gutted for the committee who have worked so hard to rehearse but we are happy we put the work in instead of sitting on our hands and waiting."

Despite the devastating blow, the group hopes to come back fighting and has already started working on plans to perform four plays at the Southern County Festival at the Barn Theatre in Oxted in February.

Boris Johnson said he is "optimistic" the situation will be "very different and better by the spring".

"The virus is spreading even faster than the reasonable worst-case scenario of our scientific advisers," he said in his address to the nation.

"Now is the time to take action because there is no alternative.

"From Thursday until the start of December, you must stay at home and may only leave home for specific reasons."

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