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Covid infection rates have more than doubled in three Greater Manchester boroughs
Grim new figures have shown that infection rates are on the rise once again
As the grand reopening on June 21st looms, Covid-19 cases have sadly been climbing across Greater Manchester.
The rapid increase in case numbers across many boroughs is thought to be being driven by the Indian or Delta variant of the virus – and those surges are continuing the latest infection rate, new data from Public Health England shows.
Despite increases slowing marginally over twenty-four hours, cases have more than doubled week-on-week in Manchester, Stockport and Trafford, and almost doubled in Tameside and Salford.
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Subsequently, eight of the top twenty areas with the highest rates are now in Greater Manchester.
Bolton, which has seen enhanced measures for several weeks now, is the only borough where cases are falling but it still has the highest rate in the region and the second highest in England.
Second to Bolton, and one of three boroughs with infection rates of over 200, is Salford, where there were 600 positive tests in the week ending June 4th, 299 more than in the previous week.
In the city of Manchester, the latest infection rate is 224.1 and the number of cases has gone up by 101pc.
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A total of 1,239 people tested positive for Covid in Manchester over the seven days, 623 more than the week before.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced yesterday that the region had been designated an ‘enhanced response area’ and extra support would be provided including surge vaccinations and increased testing.
The support includes military support with testing and supervised in-school testing. Local public health bosses will also be able to reintroduce face masks in communal areas.
Whilst residents are being urged to take extra precautions and ‘minimise’ travel in and out of the area, leaders say it is not a local lockdown or travel ban.
As well as staying local, this new advice also says that wherever possible, people should meet outside and keep two metres apart from anyone they don’t live with.
However, Hancock didn’t actually mention the changes to advice when he spoke to the Commons yesterday.