A Kent council leader has thanked residents for following coronavirus distancing guidelines while pleading with them not to be complacent in the coming weeks.

Swale council's leader, Cllr Roger Truelove (Lab), issued a statement reassuring residents in Sittingbourne , Sheppey and Faversham cases remain low in the borough.

Schools have this week told scores of pupils to self-isolate after a handful of youngsters were confirmed as Covid-19 positive.

Supermarket chain Morrisons also told staff a colleague in its Kemsley distribution centre tested positive for the virus .

Cllr Truelove acknowledged in a statement while cases in Swale are "relatively low" people still "cannot afford to be complacent".

"We know there may be some concern about the number of cases of coronavirus being reported in local schools and businesses, but I want to reassure people the number of cases in the borough remains relatively low," he said.

"Thanks to the vast majority of people doing the right thing – regularly washing our hands, wearing face coverings when required, keeping our distance and getting tested if displaying symptoms – we have been able to avoid the situation seen elsewhere in the country, where local lockdowns have been imposed.

"We cannot afford to be complacent."

"However, it has been a timely reminder we cannot afford to be complacent."

He called on people to follow new government rules from Monday which could see people fined if gathered in social groups larger than six.

"The new rules coming in from Monday about not gathering in groups of more than six people might not be a return to the full lockdown, but they are a reminder that it remains a possibility," Cllr Truelove added.

"I urge everyone, particularly young people who are more likely to carry the virus with no obvious symptoms, we need to continue taking these precautions if we want to avoid further restrictions.

"No-one wants to be the reason a vulnerable family member or friend becomes ill, or much worse. To avoid having to live with that on your conscience, please keep taking this terrible virus seriously.

"Yes, it seems inconvenient, yes, it means we can’t do everything we might like to do right now, but that seems a small price to pay in the short term to prevent unnecessary suffering and deaths."

Cllr Truelove added the council is working with Kent County Council, the NHS and Public Health England to make sure people are kept safe, adding "ultimately it is the individual actions of each of us that will stop the spread".

For more information about coronavirus visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus .

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