Covid cases creep up in five areas as restrictions are eased as par of roadmap out of lockdown
19:56, 22 April 2021
updated: 20:07, 22 April 2021
Coronavirus cases have risen in five parts of Kent - but rates in the county remain well below the national average.
The areas that have seen rises are Folkestone, Ashford, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
But while in percentage terms the increases look steep the number of cases being recorded are very low.
In Folkestone, there were a total of six cases of the virus in the seven days leading up to April 17. This was a 50% rise on the previous week.
It was similar in Ashford, which reported a 54.5% increase on the previous week, having reported 17 cases in the seven days leading to April 17.
Maidstone reported 17 cases in the same time period, which is a 29.4% rise.
Tonbridge and Malling reported 14 cases in the seven days leading to April 17, and Tunbridge Wells reported 21 cases.
These are rises of 100% and 162% respectively.
But the data also shows there is currently only one area in Kent which is reporting a case rate above the national average, and that is Canterbury.
To see the current case rate where you are click here.
It comes as lockdown restrictions have been gradually lifted over the past weeks.
The rule of six for outdoor gatherings was allowed from March 29, and non essential shops, gyms, and pub gardens were allowed to re-open from April 12.
It comes as Kent saw a 29% rise in vaccinations this week.
A total of 913,849 people across Kent and Medway have now had their first dose, with Folkestone and Hythe taking the lead of most residents vaccinated at 69%.
Canterbury and Dartford still have the lowest percentage of the population vaccinated at 58% each.
