Joe Daniel launched a “tongue in cheek” campaign to exclude Swale from the country, saying “Swexit” is necessary so people can “get back to the bar,” according to reports. Kent Live. Soil, which covers the mainland cities of Sittingbourne and Favercham on the mainland and Cirnes and Queenborough on the island of Sheby, has the highest infection rate in the country with 841 new cases recorded in the seven days through November 23 – equivalent to 560.4 cases per 100,000 people.

A change.org petition said: “In light of the news that the entire county of Kent will be placed in Level 3 Coronavirus Constraints due to the selfishness of certain regions (Swale!), I suggest holding a referendum to remove Swale from Kent.

“We have to enforce stringent limits with stringent checks making Sowell an isolated area in the Third World like Essex.

Culturally, the area has nothing in common with the rest of Kent, and as a result the Garden of England should not be penalized for the actions of the residents of Soil.

“The rest of us need to go back to the bar. # SWexit.”

Swale Borough Chairman Roger Truelove said: “I appreciate that this is what we should be, we should be at Level 3.

“I hope this will be an incentive for locals to comply with the directive as much as possible so that we reduce our numbers.

“I totally understand other neighborhoods that haven’t had such a high GPA like us, but the truth is, Kent’s level is rising.

“And I think it’s much better from a public health standpoint if you are all on the same level.”

Several Kent representatives wrote to Health Secretary Matt Hancock last Wednesday demanding that different areas of the county be placed under different restrictions.

But the government took a countywide approach with every Kent County to face Level 3.

Justifying the decision, the government said: “Case rates are high and continue to rise, with significant increases in case rates in nearly all regions in the past seven days.

“Some of the highest case rates in the country are currently seen in Kent. The high case rates in people over the age of 60 are of particular concern.

“Positivity is also increasing in 10 of the 13 lower-level local authorities.

“The Kent and Midway Partnership for Sustainability and Transformation reported increased hospital admissions and mutual assistance necessary across the province.”

(Covered by John James)