'We don't yet know if second lockdown is being effective in Milton Keynes' Council leader speaks as city's infection rate continues to rise

The Milton Keynes infection rate now stands at 145 per 100,000 people and has increased week on week over the past month.

Council leader Pete Marland said an ideal "goal' would be to get the rate down to 100 by the time lockdown comes to an end.

"It's helpful to remember that there's often a time lag between when people are infected and a positive result. That means we are only seeing the impact of the second lockdown on cases slowly coming through the system. We don't yet know how effective it's been."

Over the past two days there has been 144 new cases confirmed in Milton Keynes and, sadly, there have been 18 Covid-linked deaths at MK Hospital over the past two weeks.

Almost every day, one or more schools in MK are reporting cases and having to send children home to isolate.

Cllr Marland said it was essential that everybody in MK sticks rigidly to the lockdown rules, particularly about not mixing with other households, to prevent infections spreading further.

"Our evidence shows that the overwhelming majority of people in Milton Keynes are being sensible, cautious and following the rules. We need to keep this up," he said.