Fortunately, most people in the UK have been able to enjoy a Christmas with few COVID restrictions.
But with infection rates surging across the country, lockdown measures have not been ruled out by the prime minister.
In Kent, the COVID picture is fairly bleak, with 122 neighbourhoods above the national average – which has shot up to 971 cases per 100,000 people.
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There are nine small areas which are marked as ‘blackspots’ on the Government’s coronavirus map.
These neighbourhoods have infection rates above 1,600.
Heath in Dartford is the most infected area of Kent, with an infection rate more than double the national average.
(Image: Gov.uk)
According to the latest data, the neighbourhood has a rate of 1988.6 per 100,000 having recorded 150 new cases within a week.
Ebbsfleet & Greenhithe (1848.1) and Brent & Fleet Estate (1799.3), both also in Dartford, follow.
More than half of the blackspots are located in Dartford, with the remaining neighbourhoods found in Sevenoaks and Maidstone.
(Image: Gov.uk)
In Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks Town & Weald and Swanley South & Crockenhill are marked as a blackspots, with seven-day case rates of 1689.3 and 1684.2, respectively.
Staplehurst, which has an infection rate of 1685, is the only blackspot in Maidstone.
(Image: Gov.uk)
See below for a full list of Kent blackspots where infection rates are above 1600.
The data was collected in the seven day period leading to December 17.
| Rank | District | Neighbourhood | Infection rate |
| 1 | Dartford | Heath | 1988.6 |
| 2 | Dartford | Ebbsfleet & Greenhithe | 1848.1 |
| 3 | Dartford | Brent & Fleet Estate | 1799.3 |
| 4 | Sevenoaks | Sevenoaks Town & Weald | 1689.3 |
| 5 | Maidstone | Staplehurst | 1685 |
| 6 | Dartford | Temple Hill & Marshes | 1684.8 |
| 7 | Sevenoaks | Swanley South & Crockenhill | 1684.2 |
| 8 | Dartford | Joydens Wood | 1680.6 |
| 9 | Dartford | Central Dartford & West Hill | 1620.2 |
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