Swale once more has the highest coronavirus infection rate in England, with Medway in second.

Dover, Maidstone, Gravesham, Canterbury and Ashford are also in the top ten areas, according to Public Health England data, gathered today.

The figures, for the seven days to December 9, are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community.

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Swale continues to have the highest rate in England, with 951 new cases recorded in the seven days to December 9, the equivalent of 633.7 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 579.7 in the seven days to December 2.

Last week, data showed Medway had overtaken Swale, but now it is back in second place, although its rate has still risen, from 605.6 to 613.9, with 1,710 new cases.

Basildon in Essex is in third place, where the rate has risen sharply from 372.9 to 613.8, with 1,149 new cases.

Dover is fourth, with a rate of 518.9, up from 314.9. Maidstone is seventh, with a rate of 482.5 up from 400.4.

Gravesham is eighth, with 477.8, up from 363.8.

Canterbury, at nine, saw a large spike in its rate, to 469.9, with 777 new cases, from 264.2 and 437 cases.

Ashford is tenth, with another noticeable rise, with a rate of 452.2 and 588 new cases, from 206.9 and 269 new cases.

Mass testing is due to be rolled out in Kent from Monday.

More than 1.6 million lateral flow tests - devices that provide a result in minutes - have been sent to detect asymptomatic cases, where people do not show symptoms of the virus.

It is hoped the tests will help drive down transmission.

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