Planet Ice rink to become temporary morgue or overflow hospital in Milton Keynes

A Milton Keynes ice rink is to be converted to either an emergency hospital or mortuary.

The council has closed surrounding roads to enable the "emergency use" of Planet Ice in the Leisure Plaza, at CMK.

This means part of Elder Gate will be closed to traffic and pedestrians. Alternative routes will be via Childs Way and Grafton Street.

Anybody breaching the order and going near Planet Ice will face prosecution.

The 2,800 capacity rink closed on Friday March 20 due to the coronavirus crisis. It has a restaurant, three function rooms, offices and a video games area.

It is not yet known whether the building will be used as a temporary hospital should MKUH become full or if it will become a morgue to relieve pressure upon city funeral directors.

Officially there has been 11 deaths linked with Covid-19 in MK, but public health officials have only counted the fatalities that happened in hospital. Tomorrow (Tuesday) the true figure of deaths in the community will be given by the government.

Today MK Council announced its register office would be taking details of deaths over the phone, rather than in person, from relatives.