Only one area of Kent now has a Covid infection rate higher than the national average, the latest figures show.

Dartford's infection rate for the seven days ending on March 31 was 51.5 per 100,000 of the population, against a UK average of 44.

The 58 new cases recorded in the borough still represents a fall of 3.3%.

The rate for Kent is now 24.8 per 100,000 people, well below the national average. There were 393 new cases in the seven day period, a fall of 32.1%.

The next highest rate in the county is Swale at 42.0. All of Kent's other districts and boroughs have a rate in either the 10s or 20s.

Folkestone and Hythe is the district with the lowest figure, at 12.4.

The figures, in alphabetical order, per 100,000 of the population, are:

Ashford - 25.4

Canterbury - 28.4

Dartford - 51.5

Dover - 20.3

Folkestone & Hythe - 12.4

Gravesend - 14.0

Maidstone - 18.0

Medway - 25.8

Sevenoaks - 14.1

Swale - 42.0

Thanet - 28.9

Tonbridge and Malling - 20.4

Tunbridge Wells - 19.4

As more people across the county continue to be vaccinated, we revealed last week that fewer than a third of adults have been vaccinated in one Kent neighbourhood - while in others more than 75% have been jabbed.

KentOnline analysis reveals a huge disparity in the number of first doses delivered across 220 areas of the county.

The vast difference is primarily driven by the government’s priority groups, which have understandably seen more people vaccinated in areas with older populations.

The latest figures come as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced this afternoon that pubs, shops, hairdressers and gyms will all be able to reopen next week.

During a Downing Street briefing he said the government will go ahead as planned with the next step of its roadmap out of lockdown. This means that from April 12 non-essential retailers, indoor leisure facilities and hairdressers will be allowed to reopen, while restaurants and pubs will also be able to serve customers outside.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent