Efforts are to be redoubled to warn people to keep guarding against coronavirus as winter approaches.

Deal Town Council voted to take the action, with methods such as new posters.

It is also being done as the Christmas party season nears and with no prospect so far of another lockdown to protect people.

Snapshot figures show the case rate in Dover district is almost exactly the same as last year.

Cll Ben Bano, who put forward the motion, told KentOnline: "It was unanimously voted through.

"The posters originally put up have disappeared, either taken down or stolen. The new ones would again remind people about social distancing and wearing masks.

"With the festive season coming up, particularly with Christmas parties, we have to be particularly vigilant against further spreading this infection."

"Experts predict a serious spike in cases."

Deal Town Council, at its last full meeting, voted to allow a budget of up to £500 for the town clerk to use in providing posters and other resources as needed

Members also agreed that a letter should go to the Director of Public Health to "request a more active and focussed approach to public health education on Covid as winter approaches."

Cllr Bano's motion had said: "In Deal there appears to be less and less wearing of face coverings and no attempt at social distancing, even in crowded indoor spaces.

"While it is possible to see this as the 'new normal' experts predict a serious spike in Covid cases as winter approaches.

"While our powers as a council are limited we can in the interest of residents continue to urge caution and encourage responsible behaviour, for example through the encouragement of face coverings."

In the 24 hours until yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) there were 33,865 new cases of coronavirus in the UK compared with 31,503 in the 24 hours until November 2, 2020.

There were 37 daily cases in Dover district up to yesterday and 38 in the day until November 2 last year.

Government statistics also show that there were 293 UK deaths in the 24 hours up to yesterday compared with 337 in the same period in 2020.

Death have never gone back to the national daily peak of about 1,300 last January but this is believed to be due to the successful rollout of the vaccination programme.

For most of last November and winter there were full national lockdowns or regional tier four restrictions.

Tier four also stopped people from different households mixing, squashing down the chances of Christmas get-togethers.

Nearly all Covid restrictionsin the UK were lifted last July.

The Government has so far announced no new plans for lockdowns but some scientists say it may have to happen.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal