The coronavirus infection rate in Kent is now seven times lower than the UK average.

Figures show the number of positive tests in the county has continued to fall, with 28% fewer recorded in the space of a week.

At the same, new cases continue to spike across Britain - particularly in the north of England.

It has left the UK with an infection rate of 44 weekly cases per 100,000 people.

In Kent the rate is currently 5.9.

Public Health England figures show there were 109 positive tests in the county in the week up to Monday - down from 151 the week before.

NHS England statistics also show that Covid-19 deaths in Kent continue to remain low, with four recorded so far in September - down from 17 last month and 518 in April.

But the county's director of public health, Andrew Scott-Clark, says there is no room for complacency as authorities continue to monitor the figures for potential outbreaks.

He said: "We saw an increase in cases with children returning to school and some people returning to workplaces and, as students now go back to university , all partners across Kent - including local authorities, Public Health England and the NHS - will continue working together to carefully monitor where cases are occurring and whether there are larger widespread community outbreaks.

"Although Kent is currently below the England average, we appeal to residents to carry on playing their part to help protect themselves and others, particularly the most vulnerable members of the community who are most at risk from severe symptoms."

New lockdown restrictions are set to be introduced by the government tomorrow in the face of a rising number of cases across the UK.

It follows a stark warning from the government's chief scientific adviser about what is to come should the spike continue at its current rate.

On Monday, Sir Patrick Vallance said if cases were to double every seven days, the UK could see 49,000 positive tests a day by October 13, and 200 deaths a day in November.

The projection has proved contentious as Public Health England figures do not show cases currently doubling each week.

In the week up to September 22, there were 29,233 new cases in the UK, up from 21,670 the week before - a rise of 35%.

But it has emerged the Government's projection was in fact calculated using smaller-scale studies conducted by the ONS and Imperial College London.

Each took a random sample of more than 100,000 to track the progress of the virus, estimating a seven-day doubling.

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