Medway has overtaken Swale to having the highest coronavirus infection rate in the country.

The number of cases in the Towns has been growing every day throughout November and is now reporting 594.5 infections per 100,000 people.

Swale has the second highest rate at 575.7 per 100,000 and despite falling slightly during the past week has started increasing again.

The latest data, which was announced by the government today, gives figures for December 1.

In the seven days prior, Medway recorded 1,685 cases. Only Birmingham had more in the same period but at a case rate of 196.1 per 100,000.

Thanet still has the fifth highest infection rate in the country at 437.6 and 621 cases according to the latest data published by Public Health England.

Maidstone (390.5) is in ninth while Gravesham (373.1) has the 12th highest rate in the country.

Dover is 18th meaning Kent has six areas in the top 20 across the country.

Testing sites in Medway are due to open this week for key workers as part of a pilot for mass testing to identify asymptomatic carriers of the virus.

The military has been brought in to help set up and run the three sites, including the university campus in Chatham.

Cllr Alan Jarrett, leader of Medway Council, confirmed around 75 members of the military will be stationed in the towns.

The pilot scheme - following an example in Liverpool - will test all key workers in the community whether they are showing symptoms or not and will deliver results in around 30 minutes.

If successful, it could be rolled out across the wider community.

It is hoped the increased testing will work to reduce the spread of the virus by finding people without symptoms and by isolating, reducing the prevalence of the virus in the community and reducing the severe pressure on Medway Maritime Hospital and the entire health system across Kent.

The spread of the virus has started slowing down in Medway over the past week.

Week-on-week growth was 25.7% between November 24 and December 1. The previous seven days showed a 30.7% growth.

At its peak as rates soared during November, weekly growth hit 69.5% between November 6-13 when case rates increased from 181.3 to 306.6.

Figures show Kent has its highest rate of infection since the start of the pandemic.

Across the county, there have been 42,211 cases confirmed as of 4pm on December 6, with 1,233 new cases in the past 24 hours. Sadly, 1,753 people in Kent have died within 28 days of a positive test since the start of the pandemic.

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