Drop in new Covid cases in Bedford, but infection rate remains way above national average

Data released by the government shows 34 new Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Bedford today (May 20).

This high figure of new cases is still a decline from yesterday's numbers where 50 cases were confirmed in just 24 hours.

Surge testing has begun in the borough due to the spike of Covid cases confirmed in the area linked to the more transmissible Indian variant.

Due to this outbreak Bedford still has one of the highest infection rates in the country. After today's results the infection rate now stands at 127 cases per 100,000 people.

By comparison the national average is much lower, currently it's 22 cases per 100,000 people. No deaths linked to the virus were confirmed in the past 24 hours in Bedford. One new patient has been admitted to a Bedfordshire hospital, who is suffering after testing positive for Covid.

In Central Bedfordshire 13 new Covid cases were confirmed today and no virus-linked deaths were recorded. In Luton, 22 new cases of the virus were reported, no deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test were confirmed.

New UK figures show another 2,874 confirmed cases of Covid throughout the country and seven new deaths linked to the virus. The latest vaccination information released by Public Health England shows 70.7% of the adult population in the UK have received their first dose of a Covid jab and 40.3% of adults have received second doses. In total that represents 37,250,363 first doses being delivered since the rollout began and a further 21,239,471 second dose jabs.