New Covid cases almost double in Milton Keynes today, as Covid alert level is downgraded across the country

Government figures show there here were 76 new positive tests in MK today - the highest number for many days. It compares to just 39 new positive tests yesterday.

Two more Covid-linked deaths have been reported, bringing the MK total to 446 since the start of the pandemic.

The UK's alert level was downgraded today as the threat of the NHS reduces. The level has moved from 5 to 4, which means the transmission of the virus is now classed as "high or rising exponentially" rather than posing a risk of health services being overwhelmed.

Nationally, figures were stable with 9,985 people testing positive today and 323 deaths recorded.

The UK's chief medical officers said the the numbers of patients in hospital are "consistently declining and the threat of the NHS and other health services being overwhelmed within 21 days has receded".

In Milton Keynes hospital there are still 98 Covid patients, with three of them on ventilation.

Nationally 18,691,835 people have now had their first dose of the Covid vaccine and 700,718 have received a second dose.