Mass Covid-19 testing will be carried out in Kent schools, the Health Secretary has announced.

During today's daily briefing, Matt Hancock MP said that all students would be tested who attend schools in the worst affected boroughs of Kent, London and Essex.

It is not yet known which particular parts of Kent will be included in the testing surge.

The infection rate in the county is climbing despite the recent lockdown and Tier 3 regulations.

As of 4pm, the number of cases had risen to 46,708 since the pandemic began - up from 45,078 as of 4pm yesterday.

The Health Secretary said the testing would need to be carried out in order to keep schools open.

He said: "We want to keep schools open because that's both the right for education and right for public health.

"We're therefore surging mobile testing units and we'll be working with schools and local authorities to encourage these children and their families to get tested over the coming days.

"I want to urge all those involved to step forward for the testing. It's important that all 11 to 18-year-olds get tested in these boroughs irrespective of whether they have symptoms.

"As we know, you can have Covid and still pass it on even without symptoms - around one in three people have no symptoms at all but can still pass it onto others and I know no one wants to be responsible for endangering those around them."

He announced that more details about the effort will be released tomorrow.

So-called 'surge testing' has proven effective in areas such as Leicester and Liverpool, with Mr Hancock saying: "We know that community testing can work."

The public is called on to take part wholeheartedly to ensure cases can fall.

A new testing centre was set up and opened in Rochester Cathedral yesterday, and an Isle of Sheppey working men's club is also earmarked for use as an army-run centre.

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