Virus cases rise in boroughs due to come out of local lockdown
CORONAVIRUS rates in Trafford and Bolton have spiked just days before both boroughs are due to be released from local lockdown.
The boroughs, along with Tameside, have seen a marked increase in cases - all three areas are now in the ‘amber zone’ for infection rates.
A total of 272 positive coronavirus cases were added in Greater Manchester yesterday.
Cases have doubled week on week in Bolton (in the week ending Aug 28).
There were 39 positive tests in Bolton on Thursday (Aug 27) and 40 on Friday (Aug 28) - the biggest numbers on one day since April. Data from August 27 showed the infection rate for Bolton was 34.8 cases per 100,000 of the population.
That’s an 82 per cent increase from the previous week.
In Trafford, the infection rate on August 27 was 32.4. That’s an 83pc week on week increase.
In Tameside, the infection rate on August 27 was 33.1 - a 27pc increase.
On Friday, it was announced that Bolton and Trafford, along with Stockport, would be released from local lockdown restrictions, introduced to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
From Wednesday, people in the areas will join residents in Wigan in being allowed to meet with other households indoors and in their gardens.
The decision angered council bosses in Trafford, with town hall leader Andrew Western saying restrictions were being eased too early.
He accused the government of ‘making a mockery of local decision -making,’ and said two of the three MPs in Trafford were against easing restrictions.
In Stockport, the infection rate went down to 9.2 on August 27 – that’s a decrease of 41pc week on week.
It has now replaced Wigan as the area with the lowest rates in the region.
Oldham remains the area with the highest number of cases, with an infection rate of 53.6 - it is still in the ‘red zone.’
People living in the borough are living with even tighter restrictions than elsewhere in Greater Manchester.
Residents are unable to socialise with people from different households in any setting.
In both Rochdale and Manchester, infection rates were 39.1 apiece, meaning the two boroughs remain in the amber zone.
Bury is also in the amber zone, with infection rates of 28.3.
Salford, with a rate of 24.7 cases per 100,000, and Wigan, with an infection rate of 10, are in the green zone.