Coronavirus infection rates for Bolton and Greater Manchester

The coronavirus infection rate has continued to drop in Bolton despite a rise in some of Greater Manchester.

The number of cases in the borough has been sharply falling in recent weeks despite the dropping of all Covid restrictions on July 19.

Cases were in fact rising before this July 19 stage and started to drop after this.

Bolton has seen a consistent decrease in cases through August, with the same happening in Greater Manchester for the most part.

However, in the latest round of cases some boroughs in the city-region have seen their number of positive Covid-19 cases rise for the first time in a number of weeks.

The Bolton News: Bolton Covid testing (Photo: PA)

In the seven days to August 5, Bolton recorded 540 new positive cases of Covid-19, equalling an infection rate of 187.8 new positive cases per 100,000 residents.

This is a drop from the previous seven days, to July 29, where the town saw 668 new cases at a rate of 232.3 per 100,000.

Bolton is still recording the lowest rate of cases in the Greater Manchester region.

The Bolton News: People queuing for Covid vaccinations at the ESSA academy in Bolton as the spread of the Indian coronavirus variant could lead to the return of local lockdowns. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Elsewhere Stockport, Bury, and Trafford have all seen an increase in cases in the past seven days.

Surge testing and vaccination is still available in Bolton, a key factor in bringing down the town's infection rates.

The Bolton News: The vaccination bus at ASDA Farnworth

This was first implemented when the Delta variant of Covid-19 spread rapidly through the town in May, causing Bolton to have the highest Covid infection rate in the whole country for a significant time.

The vaccination bus and pop-up clinics and testing sites were rapidly set-up, notably at ESSA Academy, which brought the number of cases in Bolton down rapidly.

Greater Manchester infection rates

From left to right: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to August 5; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to August 5; rate of new cases in the seven days to July 29; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to July 29.

Salford, 390.6, (1011), 431.2, (1116)

Manchester, 344.8, (1906), 353.1, (1952)

Oldham, 341.6, (810), 351.3, (833)

Stockport, 321.7, (944), 293.1, (860)

Bury, 301.6, (576), 292.2, (558)

Trafford, 298.7, (709), 296.6, (704)

Tameside, 286.1, (648), 308.2, (698)

Rochdale, 284.2, (632), 317.0, (705)

Wigan, 235.2, (773), 308.5, (1014)

Bolton, 187.8, (540), 232.3, (668)