Covid rates falling for first time in months

ROCHDALE’S coronavirus infection rate is starting to fall - but not in every area of the borough.

Public Health England figures for the week to November 11 show a drop of 12pc - taking the overall rate to 541 cases per 100,000 people.

While still the second highest in Greater Manchester - and double the average for England - it is welcome news for the area.

However, positive cases were still on the rise in some parts of the borough over the rolling seven day period.

Wardleworth and Newbold Brow is the borough’s current hotspot, both in terms of the number of cases and the infection rate.

It saw 22 more new cases during the previous week - an increase of 35pc - taking the total to 85 and the infection rate to 853.5.

As with other areas in central Rochdale, its rates have often been high and a cause of concern for public health bosses.

Housing density and a large proportion of workers in frontline roles are known to be factors in this part of the borough.

Other areas that saw significant rises in the infection rate over the latest seven day period include Norden East and Bagslate Moor, which saw 13 new cases, taking the overall total to 61 - a rise of 27pc.

And Central Rochdale and Mandale also had 11 new cases - a rise of 21.6pc.

It recorded 62 cases during the week to November 11.

However, while the good news is that many areas saw their rates fall many significantly - these still remain worryingly high and well above the national average.

Figures show there is little room for complacency.

The fall of the infection rate in Springfield Park was the largest in the borough at 44pc.

However, it still stands at 448pc - whereas the England average is 271.

Another case in point is Middleton - an area where cases and rates are falling sharply, but there is clearly still work to do.

Langley and Wood Street, Middleton East and Alkrington all saw significant drops.

And Middleton Town and Rhodes recorded a bigger drop in the infection rate than anywhere bar Springfield Park.

But with 59 cases over the week, its overall rate still stands at 794 - the second highest in the borough.

Last week public health bosses revealed that over-60s were in Rochdale were catching Covid-19 at more than twice the national rate - and deaths in the older age group were also rising.

Director of public health Andrea Fallon has urged people not to mix with family members they do not live with, and to remember the importance of wearing masks, hand-washing and social-distancing.

The 16 percent fall across Greater Manchester is the biggest downward trend since August.

However all ten areas are still recording rates well above the national average of 258.4.

Oldham has the highest rate with 677.7 per 100,000 for the same period.

There were 1,607 cases recorded in the town during the week ending November 9 - which is 272 fewer than the previous week.