Bolton currently has the highest rate of coronavirus infection in the whole UK

Latest figures show that Bolton now has the highest rate of Covid-19 infection in the country. 

The has been a 340% spike in new cases in Bolton in the last seven days, with 220 new cases being reported.

In the week leading to August 31st, figures show the borough recorded a rate of 76.5 cases per 100,000 people, the Manchester Evening News reports. 

This has risen at an alarming rate from 17.4 per 100,000 in the seven day period to August 24th and makes it the highest rate found in the country. 

Data further suggests that the infection rate will jump to at least 84 per 100,000 by tomorrow, and the situation will get much worse. 

The figures mean Bolton’s infection rate is the highest the borough has had since April 28th, when the country was in full lockdown.

It now puts the borough way above the ‘red alert’ level of 50 put in place by the government.

Bolton is followed by Pendle and Rossendale for second and third-worst rates with rates of 71.7 and 64.4 respectively. 

Bolton could now be put under similar measures to that currently in place in Oldham. This means residents will not be allowed to socialise with anyone outside of their household.

Travel for those in the borough will be limited to only essential and the number of people allowed to attend weddings, civil partnerships and funerals is limited to household members and cannot exceed 20.