Urgent action needed to stop further restrictions

With national restrictions in place closing businesses including pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops Bedford Borough Council is calling on residents to do everything they can to drive down infection rates and avoid the extension of restrictions locally in December.

The current restrictions run until the 2nd December, after which it is expected that the country will return to the approach of medium, high and very high localised tiers.

The major rise in the number of people testing positive and more people hospitalised with Coronavirus in Bedford may mean that Bedford Borough is placed in the high or very high tier at the end of the national lockdown, unless urgent action is taken to stop the spread.

Wherever possible residents are asked to stay home and limit their contact with people, other than those they live with or have formed a social bubble with. By limiting the contact you have with others you limit the opportunity for the virus to spread.

If you do have to go out following the hands, face space advice is key to driving down the virus levels protecting each other and reducing the threat of further restrictions.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said "We all want to get back to normal as soon as possible, with local shops, pubs and restaurants able to re-open and looking forward to a safe and busy Christmas period. We all have a part to play if we are going to achieve this. We all need to continue to take action to reduce the spread of the virus or we could see further restrictions in place locally affecting what we do and who we are able to meet up with. Going into the national restrictions Bedford Borough had been rated as medium, with the lowest level of restrictions. Cases have continued to rise locally since then and the number of people in Bedford Hospital with coronavirus has reached an all-time high. We all need to play our part to drive the infection rate down to protect our friends, family and our community. With a high infection rate, especially amongst the over 60's, we could see Bedford placed in a higher tier with more restrictions in December unless urgent action is taken. The best thing we can do is limit our contact with others beyond the people you live with and continue to follow the hands, face, space advice if you have to go out."