Despite the so-called “Second Lockdown” coming into force on November 5th, which meant only essential trips were allowed away from home, Covid-19 cases have doubled in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells over the past month.

Latest updates now at:
https://southborough-news.com

Given the situation is complex and fast moving, official figures for how each local borough and selected university towns are faring will be updated daily here on this page until the end of November:

	Aug 1	Oct 1	Nov 1	Nov 14	Nov 28	Nov 29	Nov 30
Tun Wells	6	21	53	119	95	102	116	Tun Wells
Tonbridge	3	17	91	202	217	226	229	Tonbridge
Sevenoaks	3	23	99	197	125	125	133	Sevenoaks
Wealden*	5	13	48	125	115	112	104	Wealden*
Swale	11	22	203	619	565	578	568	Swale
Maidstone	6	11	123	236	359	382	375	Maidstone
Bromley	3	34	98	160	146	151	165	Bromley
Rother^	0	43	44	132	117	120	112	Rother^
Hastings	2	34	41	94	68	66	75	Hastings
	Aug 1	Oct 1	Nov 1	Nov 14	Nov 28	Nov 29	Nov 30
Oxford	14	133	139	249	125	125	121	Oxford
Southmptn	2	35	170	228	75	71	71	Southmptn
Bristol	4	43	407	488	177	176	168	Bristol
Nottinghm	8	412	377	263	159	161	162	Nottinghm
Cardiff	2	120	306	160	223	228	249	Cardiff
Cambridge	4	20	147	274	75	71	59	Cambridge

The figures above are confirmed cases per 100,000 of population in the previous 7 days (some iPhones only display 4 columns at a time in portrait – 7 columns of dates should be visible if you drag your view to the last date Nov 30 or hold the phone in landscape mode).
*Wealden District includes Crowborough and Frant
^ Rother District Council includes Ticehurst & Hurst Green

The case rates in the north of Kent are some of the worst in the country, which means all of Kent – including Southborough – were moved into the toughest English level of restrictions -Tier 3 – when the “second lockdown” ended and new rules started on Wednesday 2nd December.

Local MPs have called for the south of Kent to be given less onerous rules, but a statement by the Health Secretary on Thursday 26 November insisted that the medical resources for the whole county were already being stretched.

Figures in the chart below are for confirmed cases in the previous 7 days in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells, which show the two surges in cases in November:

Kent’s status in Tier 3 is bad news for the area’s pubs which can only offer takeaway food, while pubs in neighbouring Sussex in Tier 2 can welcome customers inside if they are eating substantial meals.

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock’s statement said about Kent:
“Case rates are high and continuing to rise with large increases in case rates in almost all areas in the last 7 days. Some of the highest case rates in the country are currently seen in Kent. Rising case rates in people aged over 60 are a particular concern. Positivity is also increasing in 10 of the 13 lower tier local authorities. Kent And Medway STP are reporting hospital admissions are increasing and mutual aid necessary across the county.”

As of 13th November 2020, 85 deaths linked to Covid-19 had been reported in Tunbridge Wells Borough.

All statistics are sourced directly from:
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/