Latest health figures have seen the number of new cases plummet in Dover and Deal, as mass vaccination comes online.
New cases of Covid-19 in Dover and Deal fell below 400 per 100,000, which is back to levels last seen in early December. This is half the number of cases that were reported in mid-December when the area was in Tier 4.
At the same time, thousands of vaccinations are being rolled out at the Dover District vaccination centre for residents right across the area. With extra vaccination hubs and spaces for Deal and Walmer, with Balmoral surgery stepping forward to host an extra centre for Deal and Walmer, and the Clockwork Pharmacy on Deal High Street approved for the first pharmacy hub.
A new major East Kent mass vaccination hub has been announced at Debenhams in Folkestone, with a second East Kent mass vaccination centre expected to be announced shortly.
Community testing centres continue to provide hundreds of appointments at locations right across the area, based at Dover, Sandwich, Canterbury and Folkestone.
There has been a marked fall in the number of new cases recorded in our area which is very encouraging. The restrictions are working and that is a credit to everyone locally who is sticking to the rules and being sensible. But we must remain vigilant.
After my determined effort with the Vaccines Minister and local health chiefs I am delighted that we now have additional GP vaccination and pharmacy hubs for Deal and Walmer, adding to the thousands of vaccines going out from the Dover District vaccination centre in Dover. There is a major East Kent mass vaccination hub announced in Folkestone, and another one for East Kent is expected to be announced shortly.
The three pillars to beat the virus are Restrictions, Testing and Vaccination. If you don’t have symptoms, please do book in for a non-symptomatic test at the community testing facilities, so that we can continue to identify and drive down the virus locally. I hope that everyone will take up their vaccination appointment when invited to do so. Let’s all remain vigilant and keep this moving in the right direction.