Coronavirus infection rate continues to rise in Bolton

Bolton is still recording the lowest rate of new positive cases in Greater Manchester despite this continuing rise.

The number of new cases across the country is rising at a rapid rate, just days before coronavirus restrictions are set to be eased further on July 19 ­— sometimes referred to as 'freedom day'.

• Two more coronavirus deaths at Bolton hospital

This is when all Covid restrictions are set to be dropped, which will allow businesses like nightclubs to finally reopen.

Boris Johnson confirmed the restrictions would be dropping yesterday in a news conference, however, he did not rule out the return of lockdown restrictions if necessary.

(Image: PA)

Bolton was one of the first places to see a rise in infections in recent months, due largely to the spread of the Delta variant in late April and Early May.

This gave the borough the highest infection rate in the country for a significant time.

• Number of coronavirus patients at Bolton hospital doubles compared to June

However, this was brought under control due to the work of public health teams with the NHS, CCG, and volunteers to implement surge testing and vaccinations to a point where new cases started to drop rapidly.

(Image: PA)

Despite this work continuing, cases have begun to rise slightly again, while remaining the lowest in the region.

In the seven days to July 9, Bolton recorded 927 new positive cases of Covid-19, equalling an infection rate of 322.4 new positive cases per 100,000 residents.

(Image: PA)

This is a slight increase from the previous seven days, to July 2, where the borough saw 896 new cases at a rate of 311.6.

Bury and Manchester are the only boroughs in the region to have seen a drop in cases in the last seven days, with Oldham now recording the highest infection rate in the region.

Greater Manchester infection rates

From left to right: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to July 9; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to July 9; rate of new cases in the seven days to July 2; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to July 2.

Oldham, 631.8, (1498), 565.1, (1340)

Rochdale, 585.0, (1301), 498.2, (1108)

Wigan, 540.4, (1776), 525.2, (1726)

Trafford, 538.9, (1279), 460.9, (1094)

Salford, 537.4, (1391), 506.5, (1311)

Manchester, 495.6, (2740), 545.0, (3013)

Tameside, 477.7, (1082), 421.6, (955)

Stockport, 407.3, (1195), 349.3, (1025)

Bury, 395.8, (756), 407.4, (778)

Bolton, 322.4, (927), 311.6, (896)