Covid cases fall in lockdown’s grip

CORONAVIRUS cases in Rochdale are now falling as lockdown measures to curb the spread seem to be taking effect.

Rochdale currently has a rate of 359.7 per 100,000 people - which is a drop of 14 per cent.

Although cases are falling, deaths are still seeing an upward trend with some blaming the relaxing of rules over the Christmas period.

NHS chief executive Simon Stevens warned of the grave scale of the crisis, saying England’s hospitals are taking one patient every 30 seconds and that there were 15,000 more Covid patients in hospitals now than on Christmas Day.

The Government’s official toll is 89,261 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, but the true total is thought to be more than 104,000 when death certificates mentioning Covid-19 are included.

In Rochdale, the over-80s and health and care workers are currently being invited for immunisation at one of the borough’s three ‘vaccination hubs at

Number One Riverside, Heywood Phoenix Centre and Middleton Health Centre. Appointments are by invitation only and those in priority groups will be contacted by either the Rochdale Health Alliance or their GP.

A new testing programme began in Rochdale on Monday.

The new FAST (Find and Stop Transmission) testing programme aims to identify people who have the virus but have not fallen ill. Those who test positive will then know to selfisolate, helping to slow the spread of the virus in the borough.

Anyone who cannot work from home or comes into regular contact with the public is encouraged to take up the offer to protect themselves, their loved ones, and other residents.

The 30-minute, self-administered tests are free, but strictly for people who do not have Covidsymptoms.

They are available at the following sites: Rochdale Nye Bevan House (Maclure Road) Heywood Heywood

Sports Village (both a walk-in site and a drive-through site) Middleton - Bowlee Sports Centre. A further site is due to open in Littleborough, but an exact location and start date are yet to be confirmed. All sites are open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm at weekends.

Manchester currently has the highest rate in the region with 446.8 per 100,000 people and Oldham has the lowest number of cases following a 16pc fall.