The latest coronavirus infection rates for Greater Manchester as cases begin to rise

The latest coronavirus infection rates for Greater Manchester show that the numbers are creeping up in several boroughs.

Overall, the rate for our entire region is up by 3.4% as of December 16th, based on the latest available figures.

Christmas ‘bubbles’ have been cancelled in London as the city and much of the South East enters strict Tier 4 restrictions, with London itself seeing a massive 114% increase in rates.

Peter McDermott / Geograph

For England as a whole, the rate is 280.7 cases per 100,000 people, which is up 61% – all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester are now below this national average, the Manchester Evening News reports.

Rochdale has the worst transmission rates in our region, with 205.5 cases – although cases in the borough have fallen slightly by 1% – while in Oldham rates have risen by 25% to 202.

However, it’s Trafford which has seen the largest jump in figures, with infection rates up 45% to 141.1 cases per 100,000 people, with Salford (165.7, up 23%), Bolton (149.2, up 1%) and Tameside (107.3, up 17%) also seeing a rise.

Mikey / Flickr

As well as in Rochdale, cases are also falling in Bury (190.1, down 11%), Manchester (170.6, down 4%), Wigan (158.5, down 12%) and Stockport (112.8, down 1%).

The news of these latest figures comes as a new strain of coronavirus which spreads more rapidly has been detected – it’s thought to be responsible for the increase in rates in London and the South East.

According to the prime minister, the new strain has also been detected in other parts of the country.