New Covid-19 infections drop in Milton Keynes - but prepare for a surge at the end of the week

This is the lowest figure for several days and brings the total number of confirmed infections to 375.

But yesterday (Sunday) saw the opening of the new testing centre in a car park at the city centre.

As hundreds of health and key workers are sent to be tested, the figure of local infections is expected to rise significantly.

Previously the only people to be tested were people ill enough to be sent to hospital. Now the testing centre will give a clear picture of the extent of the infection in MK.

Currently only people working for the NHS or other key professions will be invited to be tested. It is not certain when or if the general public will be able to use the facility, which is off Grafton Gate.

Meanwhile, the death toll at MK hospital today stands at 73, while throughout the UK there has been 449 new coronavirus-linked deaths, making a total of 16,509.

Nationally there has been 4,676 new cases today, making a total of 124,743 since the start of the pandemic.

These figure do not, however, include people at home or in care homes who caught the virus but were not tested.