Concern over soaring Covid rate in borough

The latest Covid-19 figures show Ashford’s infection rate is now among the 10 worst in England.

Cases in the borough rose by 646 in the seven days to December 10, an increase of 125%.

Ashford’s infection rate of 496.8 per 100,000 of the population makes it among the worst in England and well above the UK average.

Most of the areas with more severe infection rates are also in Kent, with Canterbury, Maidstone, Dover, Medway, Swale all featuring in the top 10 for high case rates.

A total of 3,520 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 in the borough since the start of the pandemic, with 160 deaths.

Responding to recent figures, Ashford Borough Council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson (Con) said: “It is hugely worrying to see that Covid-19 infection rates are rising sharply in Ashford.

“It is up to every one of us in the borough to follow the guidelines to prevent this situation from escalating further.

“We must all carefully consider our social contacts over the coming days and weeks.

“We must minimise the number of people we meet where pos

sible and try our best to avoid crowded places by making the most of extended shopping hours and enjoying countryside walks over indoor activities.

“Anyone who develops symptoms or who is asked to self-isolate as a close contact of someone with the virus, must do so to prevent further increases in local rates.

“Although vaccination is gathering pace – and I’m pleased to see that we have our own vaccination centre here at the William Harvey Hospital – it will be

some time before it has a positive significant impact on infection rates in our communities.

“Once again, we must all play our part. Together we can reverse the current trend and see infection rates begin to fall.”

Ashford MP Damian Green was among those who voted against the tier system in favour of more localised rules before exiting the second lockdown two weeks ago. At the time, Ashford was the third least infected area in Kent.

Some of the recent rise has

been attributed to a new strain of Covid-19 being discovered in the south east, which Health Minister Matt Hancock says is no more deadly or resistant to the new vaccine.

Kent will remain in Tier 3 alongside newly restricted London after tiers were reevaluated yesterday (Wednesday).

For more information on how Ashford council is responding to the pandemic, visit www.ashford.gov.uk/coronavirus

A government data map shows Ashford’s latest infection rate; right, borough council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson says the recent figures are ‘hugely worrying’