Plans are in place for Kent’s Libraries, Registration and Archives services to return to normal service following the government’s decision to ease Covid restrictions across the country from yesterday (19 July). KCC says it will be taking a “phased approach” to changes, beginning with 18 libraries reopening from the week beginning 26 July. The plan…
Kent’s interim Director of Public Health, Allison Duggal, has thanked residents across the county for continuing to test themselves regularly for COVID-19 and supporting the county’s road map out of lockdown. “I cannot thank the residents of Kent enough for their part in locating the virus and driving down infection rates through regular testing,” said…
Half a million symptom free COVID-19 tests have now been carried out at sites across Kent. Symptom free tests are a vital part of the county’s route out of lockdown as around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus do not have any symptoms. This means they could be spreading the virus without knowing it. Out…
Former Squeeze musician and Man of Kent, Jools Holland, is urging everyone in the county to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. The pianist and bandleader has backed KCC’s Don’t be the Reason campaign by recording a series of short videos which encourage people across Kent to play their part in protecting…
The impact of COVID-19 has led to enormous uncertainty and an unprecedented challenge for Kent County Council as it prepares its budget for the next financial year. Responding to the pandemic has required a huge increase in spending and has come at the same time as reductions in income from council tax, business rates and…
England has entered into another national lockdown, the Prime Minister has announced. This means you must now stay at home and follow the new guidance immediately. Fines of £200 can be given for those breaking the rules without a reasonable excuse. Schools will now be closed until after the February half term, though they remain…
Speaking after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson addressed the House of Commons to update on the return to school in January, Richard Long, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “The Government has today announced that the majority of secondary school pupils will learn remotely for an additional week after the current school…
Rapid-result coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for people who don’t have symptoms is now available to anyone who lives or works in Swale and Thanet. The testing will find people who don’t currently have symptoms, who may be unknowingly spreading the virus in the community. Kent County Council Director of Public Health, Andrew Scott-Clark said: “We have…
Kent, London and the south east, will be placed in new tier four restriction from midnight tonight (Saturday). The changes will broadly be the same as the most recent national restrictions meaning all non-essential shops will close and people should remain at home. No Christmas bubbles – that is more than one household getting together…
Targeted asymptomatic testing launches in Kent on Friday, with the first sites in Swale and Thanet to be followed by a rolling programme across the county to try to reduce the rates of Covid-19. These sites are in addition to the DHSC run regional and local test sites for people who have symptoms. The asymptomatic…
KCC is pleased to now have military support to plan the targeted asymptomatic testing programme to be rolled out in areas of high prevalence in Kent in the coming weeks. This helps to identify those people who may have the virus without symptoms and who are therefore potentially spreading it unknowingly within their families and…
Following the easing of national restrictions on 2nd December, all of Kent and Medway will have restrictions at the very high tier 3 level. The Government’s decisions on tiers have been made by ministers based on recommendations by government scientists and medics, taking into account: Infection rates in all age groups and in particular among…