Almost 9,000 new cases of Covid have been reported in the latest range of weekly figures for Medway, Gravesham and Dartford.

Across the three authority areas in north Kent in the seven days to January 5, there were 8,812 new positive cases.

Infection rates are now at their highest points than at any point in the pandemic.

In Medway, it stands at 1,764.7 per 100,000 while in Gravesham it is 1,664.3 and Dartford the highest with 1,847.4.

There were 4,926 new cases in Medway, 2,107 in Dartford and 1,779 in Gravesham in the seven day period to January 5.

Although infections are at a far higher level than the Alpha wave at this time last year, hospitalisations are lower meaning the proportion of those with Covid are not falling so severely ill with the virus.

However, hospital admissions at Medway NHS Trust – which runs Medway Maritime Hospital – and Dartford and Gravesham NHS – which runs Darent Valley Hospital – are increasing.

At Medway, latest figures show 115 patients with Covid were being treated on January 4 – almost double the 52 on December 4 – of which there were five on ventilator beds.

On the same day in 2021, there were 257 patients in hospital.

But daily admissions have been in double figures for six consecutive days up to January 2 – the latest date for which data has been published – which had not happened previously since last February.

At Darent Valley Hospital, patient numbers have tripled in the past month from 29 on December 4 to 95 on January 4.

But just one patient was being treated on a ventilator bed on that day.

Vaccination rates in Medway show 80.8% of those aged over 12 have had at least one dose, 74.1% have had two while 54.4% have received their booster jab.

In Dartford, the numbers are similar with 80.6% having one jab, 73.7% having their second and 52.5% having their third.

While in Gravesham, vaccination uptake for one dose is 78.3%, 72% double-jabbed and 53% for their third.

It comes as staff absences as a result of Covid isolation or other related absences such as childcare at Kent's hospitals in December tripled, with latest figures showing half are linked to the virus.