The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Borough has now reached 139 and Bedford Hospital is preparing for the inevitable increase in the number of deaths locally.
A week ago, the hospital confirmed that there had been 11 COVID-19-related deaths in Bedford.
Read: Latest news: Hospital confirms there have been 11 coronavirus deaths in Bedford
To help the hospital cope, an additional temporary resting place has been set up at RAF Henlow. This facility is starting to be used so that the hospital mortuaries have capacity over the weekend.
Muriel Scott, Director of Public Health in Bedfordshire said, “This is a hard thing to think about, but it is vital that we prepare and enable our hospitals to focus on saving lives.
“In order to protect the dignity and respect of those who have lost their lives, the temporary resting place will be similar to the hospitals, with trained staff and security in place to ensure loved ones can safely remain there until funerals take place.
“Everyone can play their part in helping to save lives by staying at home.”
