KentOnline

The health secretary has issued a stark warning to the people of Kent as it was confirmed the county would remain in Tier 3.
Cases of coronavirus are continuing to rise so pubs, restaurants and other leisure and hospitality venues must remain closed over Christmas.
Matt Hancock urged residents to behave as if they had the virus in a bid to try and reduce infection rates.
Also in today’s podcast – the message from health care workers as hospitals in the county come under extreme pressure.
NHS staff in Kent are to receive Christmas meals thanks to a charity.
And David Walliams has sent a message to a Kent school – find out why.

Three families will still be able to get together over Christmas in Kent despite rising Covid cases.The Prime Minister has confirmed a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions for five days from next Wednesday (December 23) will go ahead.We’ve been chatting to shoppers in Chatham to find out what their festive plans are.Also in today’s podcast, as the end of the Brexit transition period gets ever closer we’ve been speaking to some leading figures in the freight haulage industry.There are real concerns about delays at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel at Folkestone after December 31 – they’ve been speaking about the impact it could have on drivers.And the Gillingham manager has been speaking about last night’s defeat to Accrington Stanley.

It’s a big day in the fight against coronavirus as a mass roll out of the first vaccine gets under way in Kent.Nine sites are opening in the county over the next few days so the most vulnerable patients can have the jab.It’s less than two weeks since Pfizer / Biontech vaccine was approved for use in the UK – we’ve been speaking to Dr Jack Jacobs from Hamstreet Surgery near Ashford.Also in today’s podcast, a Whitstable woman who was told she had cancer, only to find out after 18 months of chemotherapy that wasn’t the case, speaks about her ordeal.A Strood mum is at the centre of a High Court battle over her the treatment given to her severely brain damaged daughter.And, we hear from the Gillingham boss ahead of their game against Accrington Stanley tonight.

As Brexit negotiations continue, one Kent MP says Boris Johnson should stand down if he fails to secure a deal with the EU. Could more follow in his footsteps? 
And opinion is split on schools in areas with high Covid-19 infection levels remaining open for the final week of term.

There are calls for some schools in Kent to close early for the Christmas break as cases of coronavirus continue to rise.Seven parts of the county are in the top 10 for the highest infection rates in England.Hear from he chair of the Kent Association of Head Teachers – you can also vote in our poll.Also in today’s podcast, a Kent MP says the Prime Minister should resign if the UK doesn’t leave the EU with an acceptable trade deal.We’ve been speaking to North Thanet’s Sir Roger Gale and have reaction from our political editor.And, the Gillingham boss has been reacting to their loss to Doncaster Rovers at the weekend which ended a run of five league games without defeat.

A vulnerable patient says he fears for his life after a man he was told had tested positive for Covid-19 was moved onto the same hospital ward.Kevin Gearey has cancer and has been shielding throughout the pandemic.He was admitted to Medway Maritime in Gillingham on Friday with a chest infection and spoke to the KentOnline Podcast from his bed.Also in today’s podcast, there are fears businesses in Kent aren’t ready for a no deal Brexit.A food charity says demand for supplies are expected to triple this Christmas.And we hear from Gillingham defender Connor Ogilvie ahead of their game against Doncaster Rovers this weekend.

The chief executive of Visit Kent has been chatting to the KentOnline Podcast about how the tourism industry plans to recover in 2021.A study released this week has revealed how much the sector was worth in the county in 2019 along with the number of visitors.We reveal the details and speak to Deirdre Wells.Also in today’s podcast why is mass coronavirus testing so important? A University of Kent expert explains all as it looks set to be expanded across the county.We have the latest on Brexit as the end of the transition period gets ever closer.And, the author of a best-selling book on her battle with ME talks about her second book and hopes it’ll dispel even more myths about the condition.

A teenager from Maidstone who is one of the world’s very few self-made teen millionaires has been chatting to the KentOnline Podcast about his success.Elliot Padfield had made his first million before sitting his GCSEs and has now moved to America after leaving school early.He’s been speaking to our reporter Katie Heslop.Also in today’s podcast we speak to the head of the Thanet Fishermen’s Association as Brexit trade talks reach a critical stage with the end of the transition period only days away.We’ve got the remarkable tale of a key to a 900 year-old tower that’s been returned almost 50 years after it was ‘borrowed’.And the Gillingham boss has been reacting to their defeat to Cambridge United which sees them knocked out of the EFL Trophy.

A great-grandad from New Romney has become the first person in Kent to be given the Covid-19 vaccination.
Kenneth Lamb had the injection at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital just days as the Pfizer / Biontech jab was approved for use in the UK.
In today’s podcast hear from Ashford GP Dr Jack Jacobs on what a momentous day it is in the fight against coronavirus.
Also, we’ve been speaking to a young Kent woman who’s been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after suffering with symptoms for 10 years.
She’s been speaking as new research shows 1 in 5 people diagnosed in the UK is under the age of 30.
And we hear from the Gillingham boss ahead of tonight’s EFL trophy game at Cambridge United – which’ll be played in front of supporters.

A mass coronavirus testing facility has opened in Medway which now has the highest rate of infection in England.The military have set up the site in Chattenden in a bid to identify people who’ve got the virus but aren’t showing any symptoms.Hear from the council leader, head of public health in the towns and the commanding officer for the Medway Resilience Unit.Also in today’s podcast, are supermarkets still doing enough to enforce social distancing? We’ve got the results of a KentOnline poll.Find out why Rochester Cathedral will be lit up green tonight.And, we’ve got reaction from Gillingham’s win over Swindon Town at the weekend from boss Steve Evans.