Dartford is currently seeing a rapid rise in the number of new Covid-19 infections according to the latest data from Public Health England (PHE).

Data from PHE showed a rapidly rising number of new infections in the borough that mirrored recent high rates of its neighbours in South East London.

According to the data, 1,363 new cases of the virus were confirmed in Dartford in the seven days up to January 5.

That represented a rise of 122, or 9.8 per cent, on the previous week's figures.

Dartford's 'rolling rate' of new infections per 100,000 people currently stands at 1,210.4 according to PHE.

That was significantly higher than the figure for Kent as whole, excluding Medway (790.5) and England (650.9).

Across Kent, some 12,502 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the week up to January 5, an increase of 1,381 or 12.4 per cent on the previous seven-day total.

With cases soaring across London and the total number of deaths attributed to coronavirus hitting 80,000 in the UK (over 1,000 new deaths were reported Saturday), health officials have warned that the British government should be more proactive at tackling the virus.

Professor Devi Sridhar, chairwoman of public health at Edinburgh University and an adviser to the Scottish Government, said there is currently “no clear strategy” in the UK other than “reactive lockdowns”.

Speaking on Times Radio, she said test and trace systems must be improved, along with stricter measures at international borders and support packages for people who are forced to self-isolate.