Kent is facing even more drastic Covid restrictions if the infection rate in the county cannot be brought under control.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed Kent's Tier 3 grading yesterday, urging people to 'behave as if they have the virus.'

It is believed Mr Hancock is now considering even more drastic 'Tier 4' measures, including closing all non-essential shops, if mass testing does not bring infection rates down.

It is feared that commuters are responsible for a wave of infections in Kent and other areas of southern England.

Ministers hope that by placing both London and the commuter belt under the same strict Tier 3 restrictions they will bring the infection rate down.

If not, further measures including the closure of non-essential shops are under consideration.

Additional measures may include an aggressive advertising campaign to improve compliance in Kent.

A Whitehall source told The Times : "There is a case for going further than Tier 3 and it is getting stronger.

"That could mean closure of non-essential retail and stay-at-home orders. That would have to be actively considered in conversation with the local authority."

Announcing Kent would remain in Tier 3, Mr Hancock said: "Tunbridge Wells today has a case rate of 288 per 100,000 and I would say to everybody right across Kent that we really need to act with serious responsibility... no matter which part of Kent you are in.

"We have a very serious problem in Kent and the only way we can get it under control is for people in Kent to essentially behave as if they have the virus and are trying not to pass it on to somebody else.

"Be really cautious in Kent. It is the area of the country which has the biggest problem, both in terms of case rates and in terms of, therefore, huge pressures on the NHS in Kent.

"I want to thank every one working in the NHS in Kent for what they are doing. We are putting in as much support as we can."

Meanwhile, director of public health for Kent County Council, Andrew Scott-Clark, has also advised people to more cautious, saying that it is important to wear face masks in public at all times, given the new strain of the virus known to be circulating in the county.

He said: "We know that the new variant has been found, and we do believe that it may be more transmissible and that’s a worry because that may have contributed to the significant rise in cases we have seen right across our county.

"We’re not the only area that this has been seen in, it’s been found in other areas, in London and the east of England.

“So, we are concerned but it doesn’t change what we’re doing and it doesn’t change the message for everybody out there.

“I think they should be more cautious now because if it’s more transmissible then wearing a mask in public is absolutely important particularly if you’re going to be in close contact with people.

"Particularly at this period now when people are out Christmas shopping - it’s really important to wear a mask at all times."

Swale and Medway have the highest case rates in England – growing to 725.6 and 701.1 infections per 100,000 respectively.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent