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COVID-19 cases across the country have started gently receding, paving the way for a return to the simpler times of summer. But some regions have not effectively reduced their infection rates. Swale, in Kent, recently became the most infected area in the UK.

Where is Swale in Kent?

The Borough of Swale is a non-metropolitan district which rests on the east coast of the UK.

Swale encompasses Faversham, Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey, which looks out to Southend-on-Sea.

Canterbury, Ashford, and Maidstone surround it, meaning the borough could inspire rises in more densely populated areas.

Swale’s infection rate currently stands at 654.3 per 100,000 people, due in part to incompatibility of the measures with more “deprived” areas, officials said.

During a virtual meeting last week, Andrew Scott-Clark, Kent County Council’s public health director, explained the mechanisms at play with the latest outbreak.

He said the “majority of transmission” happened in public rather than in isolated areas such as care or custodial settings.

Higher transmission has happened where people cannot afford to self-isolate and must continue to work.

The Isle of Sheppey and Thanet have emerged as two such areas with the most infections.

Mr Scott-Clark said: “They are effectively some of our care workers and key workers who have to go out and are more likely to be exposed by the virus.

“Particularly those communities where there are multi-generational homes or are really challenged in their ability to self-isolate.

“As we know COVID clusters, which means the whole family is likely to come down with the virus.”

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Speaking before the meeting, Kent Councillor Roger Truelove said several reasons could be behind the infection rate.

He added a raft of other potential causes to Kent’s equation.

When asked about infections, Councillor Truelove said: “I think it’s very difficult to say. People talk to us about reasons.

“There’s obviously a fair number at the prisons, we’ve got a fairly large number in care homes and we have, clearly, got a lot just in the community, within households.”

“People are saying it’s the meeting of children outside of schools and playdates and people aren’t social distancing.

“We don’t have so many people in Swale who work from home either, so maybe they’re working in settings where distancing is hard or not possible – there is no definitive answer.”

Councillor Truelove said people have to understand the current situation or risk restrictions.

He added: “Unless we get these figures down, we are going to suffer restrictions on a higher level than others throughout this winter.”

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