COVID HOTSPOT

NEIGHBOURHOOD HAS HIGHEST INFECTION RATE IN THE REGION

AN AREA of Stockport is currently the biggest Covid hotspot in Greater Manchester, according to the latest data.

Statistics from UK Health Security Agency show that Norris Bank – north of the town centre – had an infection rate of 970.6 per 100,000 people during the week to October 27. There were 62 positive tests over the seven-day period which, while high, represented a drop of two cases week-on-week.

This comes from the most recent hyperlocal figures, which break down each borough into neighbourhoods of roughly 7,000 people.

The second hardest hit place in the conurbation was Hale Barns in Trafford, where the infection rate stood at 888.4 per 100,000 people - which again was a slight week-on-week improvement.

The area recorded 75 new cases, five fewer than the week before.

Cases shot up in Whitefield West and Park Lane, in Bury, however.

The neighbourhood in the south of the borough recorded 59 cases - 26 more than the previous week. That was a 78.8pc increase, resulting in an infection rate of 851 per 100,000.

It wasn’t the only part of Bury that saw high rates over the week, though. Ramsbottom and neighbouring Summerseat come in at numbers four and five respectively on Greater Manchester ‘hotspot’ list.

The former recorded an infection rate of 806.3 per 100k, while the latter was not far behind with a rate of 732.1. However, while Ramsbottom’s 71 cases was 10 up on the previous week, Summerseat saw cases drop by 16 to 42 - a drop of nearly 30pc.

And Prestwich, also in Bury, was the seventh worst-hit area in the region, with an infection rate of 699 per 100,000. It recorded 45 cases, up 10 from the week before.

With four separate entries, Bury has more neighbourhoods in the top ten hotspots than any other borough.

However, Tameside features twice. Denton West registered 35 new cases, resulting in an infection rate of 714 per 100,000. This was a slight reduction on the

38 it saw the week before. And Hattersley saw an infection rate of 663.9. Cases went up by 12 to 47 – an increase of 34.3pc.

Tyldesley South, in Wigan, saw a big rise in positive tests. It registered 57 cases, 29 more than the previous week and has an infection rate of 683.3. It was the eight worstaffected area over the week.

Completing the list is Marple and Hawk Green, in Stockport, which recorded 39 new cases - and infection rate of 656.

The biggest ‘notspot’ was Rumworth North in Bolton, which recorded just three cases – an infection rate of just 34 per 100k.It was good news for several other areas across Greater Manchester though, where cases fell and infection rates are low. But while Bolton tops the list, it is Manchester which perhaps has the most to smile about - with no fewer than five notspots in the top ten. These included University North and Whitworth Street in second place which saw a big drop in cases – down from 16 to five – to record an infection rate of 68.8 per 100,000. And this was closely followed by Cheetham Hill, where the infection rate now stands at 85.7 per 100,000. It saw just four positive cases over the week.

Other Manchester areas include Fallowfield Central in fifth position – which recorded an infection rate of 92.8 per 100,000 – and seventhplaced Hulme and University where the rate is 102.1 per 100,000. Harpurhey South and Monsall recorded an infection rate of 102.1 per 100,000. Its 15 cases being well

down on the 26 it saw the week before.

Oldham has two entries on the notspot list. Salem, in fourth place with seven cases, had an infection rate of 89.8, while Busk’s rate stood at 106.4 per 100,000.

And there was some good news for Bury, too - Fernhill and Pimhole was the sixth least-affected area in the

conurbation. It saw 11 cases over the week, resulting in an infection rate of 101.9per 100,000.

The notspot rundown is completed by Cromwell Road and Broad Street, in Salford. This neighbourhood recorded 10 cases – 18 fewer than the seven days. Its infection rate of 119.5 per 100,000 was down 64.3pc week-on-week