Revealed: Harpur has Bedford's highest Covid-19 death toll

Harpur has seen more deaths linked to the coronavirus than anywhere else in Bedford, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

New data shows the number of deaths involving Covid-19 split by small areas within local authorities.

Between March and May, 21 people in the area of Harpur died with the virus – the most in Bedford's 20 areas.

At the other end of the spectrum, there were two areas where two were recorded over the period.

The ONS data includes deaths for which coronavirus was the underlying cause, or was mentioned on the death certificate as a contributory factor.

The report, which updates figures published in May, shows the wide disparity in the pandemic’s impact on different communities.

In England, the rate of deaths related to Covid-19 in the most deprived areas was 128.3 per 100,000, more than double that in the most affluent parts of the nation.

Anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said the pandemic has laid bare the “stark” health inequalities between neighbourhoods.

Dave Innes, head of economics at the foundation, said: “It is completely unacceptable that someone’s life chances are so profoundly affected by where they live.

“[The] statistics must act as a wake-up call – as a society with a strong sense of decency and compassion we can and must do better.”

He added it is vital that the Government takes “bold steps” to protect people from being pulled further into poverty as the lockdown is lifted.

In May, 54 deaths in Bedford were linked to Covid-19, including those registered up to June 6 – equivalent to 32.1 per 100,000 of the population.

A Bedford Borough Council Spokesperson said: “We know that older people are more at risk of COVID-19.

"We have looked into this and the higher number of deaths in Harpur ward sadly seems to reflect the age of the population in that ward.

"The number of elderly residents in Harpur is particularly high as the ward has many care homes and other care settings.

"We are working closely, with our health partners, to support all care providers in the borough to keep residents and staff in all care homes safe with correct PPE, signposting to swabbing and testing, and advice on infection control.”

A government spokeswoman said: “Every death from this disease is a tragedy, but thanks to our health and care workers and the huge efforts of the British people, rates of Covid-19 infections are decreasing over time.

“The Government is working to understand the key drivers of disparities in infection and death rates, and the relationships between the different risk factors.

“We are taking forward the work of Public Health England’s recent Disparity Review, which will help us make a real difference to people’s lives and protect our communities from the impact of the coronavirus.”