UPDATE: Bedford has four new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours

As of today (July 16), Bedford has recorded four new cases, with a total of 1,281 people now diagnosed with the deadly virus, according to the latest figures from Public Health England.

Central Bedfordshire has two new cases, with a total of 1,238 and Luton has six new cases, with a total of 1,458.

Meanwhile, Buckinghamshire now has a total of 1,701 cases, Hertfordshire has 4,169 and Milton Keynes has 862 cases.

Previous data shared by Public Health England relied solely on Pillar 1 (testing from Public Health England and NHS Hospital Trusts), but as of Thursday, July 2, the information includes Pillar 2 (non-clinical and commercial testing).

It has seen a radical overhaul of how coronavirus infection data is presented across the country, with hundreds of new cases emerging in individual authorities.

The first coronavirus deaths in four days have been recorded at Bedford Hospital Trust, the latest figures show.

NHS England figures show 221 people had died in hospital at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust as of 5pm on Wednesday, July 15, on Tuesday 219 deaths had been recorded.

The new figures are recorded between 5pm the previous day to 5pm.

Nationally, the number of coronavirus cases now stands at 292,552. The number of deaths has been recorded as 45,119.

The figures come from the Government website which is available for the public to view here.