A Kent health boss has warned remote working, social distancing and testing hubs could be reintroduced if a "twindemic" hits this winter.

Kent County Council's (KCC) public health director, Dr Anjan Ghosh, says the county is predicted to face a worse than usual flu season, coinciding with the re-emergence of Covid.

The number of coronavirus cases is forecast to increase in winter, namely in December, while concerns have been raised over rising flu cases in Australia.

The country, whose winter occurs during the UK's summer, has seen more than 220,000 labratory-confirmed cases in 2022, higher than normal.

Dr Ghosh said: "The coronavirus outlook is further complicated, potentially, by the twindemic."

Speaking to KCC's public health committee yesterday, he added: "What is happening in Australia is a good predictor for what could happen in England."

Fears were expressed of a large number of residents falling ill and the resulting impact on the NHS and businesses during a County Hall meeting in Maidstone.

Flu can lead to fevers, coughs, sore throat, muscle aches and fatigue. Covid can cause shortness of breath, high temperature and loss of smell and taste.

Recent figures have reported a total of 12 deaths a week from Covid in the county. Four ventilator beds have been occupied this week in Kent hospitals.

However, KCC's public health director warned Kent could face an "earlier onset of flu" this winter, which coincide alongside an upsurge of coronavirus cases.

Dr Ghosh said: "The modelling suggests that we will see an escalation or a surge in coronavirus cases around the end of November and early December.

"That increase could happen sooner, with case rates showing an upward trend towards mid-October."

The warning comes just a week after the World Health Organisation said the end of the pandemic was "in sight" and when many Kent neighbourhoods were found to be close to Covid free.

If a surge occurs, the county council health boss says that remote working, social distancing and testing hubs may need to be reintroduced.

Case rates remain highest among residents who are aged over 50, while, the fastest Covid increases are taking place among primary-school aged children.

There has also been a "low and stable" trend in the number of outbreaks in care homes in Kent.

KCC's shadow cabinet member for public health, Cllr Karen Constantine, urged the authority to "pay close attention" to the uncertain situation.

Canterbury county councillor Neil Baker (Con) expressed concerns over a "severe" risk to Kent, with a potential joint surge of influenza and coronavirus.

However, Dr Ghosh said: "It is not a risk to overall health, except in certain vulnerable groups.

"The challenge is more staff resilience and business continuity, basically lots of people falling ill and staying at home as service suffers."

Vulnerable residents have been urged to get jabbed with the Covid vaccine as an autumn booster is being rolled out across England's care homes this month.

Other suggestions include wearing face masks in crowded enclosed spaces, washing hands and staying at home if feeling unwell.