Infections still on rise, according to new figures

CORONAVIRUS infection rates are continuing to increase in Rochdale and Manchester, the latest government data reveals.

Figures released yesterday show the infection rate in Rochdale reached 46.3 in the week ending August 12.

The town has the second highest Covid-19 infection rate in the region.

In Manchester, the infection rate has increased to 42.3 – up from 40.7 in the previous seven-day period.

If the rate reaches 50, the area will be placed on a ‘red alert’ on the government watch list.

There was a total of 1,048 positive tests across Greater Manchester in the seven-day period ending on August 12.

This is slightly lower than the previous day but is still a 19 per cent increase on the previous week.

Around a quarter of those positive test results were in Oldham, with 257 cases recorded in the town.

The numbers continue to climb in Oldham – up 42pc week on week – but the rise has been slightly less rapid in the last two days.

The infection rate has dipped slightly from 112.2 to 108.4.

In six other boroughs – with the exception of Wigan – infection rates remain stable at around 25-30 cases per 100,000 people.

Wigan has the lowest rate in Greater Manchester.

The government confirmed on Friday that restrictions on social distancing would continue in Greater Manchester.

The rules, which include a ban on people of different households mixing in gardens or homes, were announced two weeks ago to tackle an increase in Covid cases in the North West, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester.

■ One more person has died in Greater Manchester’s hospitals after contracting coronavirus.

The region’s hospital death toll now stands at 2,158, the latest NHS daily figures show.

Nationally, four new deaths of people with coronavirus in hospitals have been announced.