Coronavirus deaths at Bedford Hospital hit 40

Bedford Hospital have confirmed that there have now been 40 deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a statement this evening a spokesperson said the official figures saw a jump of 29 since they last issued figures on 2 April.

Read: Hospital confirms there have been 11 coronavirus deaths in Bedford

The news comes as Public Health England (PHE) announced earlier today that confirmed cases in the Borough stand at 139.

Each day the Bedford Independent publishes the latest figures from PHE in a ‘live’ blog.

Read: Coronavirus update: latest confirmed cases in Bedford

The UK remains in ‘lockdown’ with the government suggesting we may yet see a minimum of three more weeks before restrictions are lifted. At present their advice is:

Everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

You should only leave the house for 1 of 4 reasons:

• shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
• one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household
• any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home

Working with the NHS and Bedford Borough Council, the Bedford Independent and our sister publication The Bedford Clanger have produced a guide to ‘lockdown’ advice.

The guide is designed to undo the misinformation being shared within poorly-moderated social media groups and accounts, giving Bedfordians the official sources of up-to-date information.

The guide, which you can download below, is a one-stop-shop for the facts and links to the following:

• Government guidelines about leaving your house
• What to do if you have symptoms
• How you can stay fit and healthy
• Where you can get help or support if you’re struggling
• How you can help vulnerable people
• Where you can get business advice

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