Communications Dept.

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 Immediate release                                                      Monday 14 September 2020

Attn: Newsdesk                                                                                                15531

Rise in COVID-19 Cases in Bedford Borough

Bedford Borough Council is urging residents to keep taking precautions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 following an increase in local cases and at a time when some people have had problems booking a test.

Along with health leaders across the country, Bedford Borough Council is reminding people to follow the hands, face, space advice and if you have any of the symptoms including a new persistent cough, high temperature or loss of smell or taste to self-isolate and get tested.

Tests can be arranged by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. In recent days, this service has been busy at times, and some people have had problems booking a test due to capacity issues in the laboratories that the government uses to process the results. If you do not have COVID symptoms, please do not book yourself a test. Doing so only makes it harder for people with symptoms to get the test they need.

New testing slots are added hourly, so please keep checking, and self-isolate while you do so. The Government has advised that additional laboratory capacity is being added, but in the meantime, areas of the country where there are significant outbreaks are being prioritised.

People are also required to stay at home if anyone in their household has COVID symptoms, or if they have been told they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive. Anyone living with someone with suspected COVID must not leave the home for any reason for 14 days from the time that their family member or housemate started showing signs of the virus.

Louise Jackson, Portfolio Holder for health and wellbeing at Bedford Borough Council said: “Cases of COVID-19 are rising across the country and Bedford Borough is no exception. I’d like to thank everyone who has worked really hard to stick to the advice. We need everyone to work together to keep our families and our communities safe. Things to look for are a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a change in your sense of smell or taste. If you have any one of those symptoms, don’t leave the house at all, book a test and then self-isolate for 10 days or until your test result gives you the all clear and please do keep trying if you have problems booking, as new slots will become available.”

ENDS