BOLTON’S coronavirus infection rate is once again the highest in Greater Manchester. Despite the number of cases in the town falling, in line with the rest of the region and country, over recent weeks, it has not fallen at anywhere near the same rate as surrounding boroughs. The borough’s infection rate has stagnated around 280 per 100,000 residents recently while rates in the rest of Greater Manchester have fallen sharply. The variant that first appeared in the south east of the UK is said to be the most prevalent in Bolton, according to the council’s director for public health, Dr Helen Lowey.
Half of the areas in Bolton have recorded an increase in coronavirus cases and infection rates, according to the government s Covid-19 data map. The other half of areas in Bolton have either had few cases in the seven days leading to December 21 or have recorded the same amount. The latest data shows that Harper Green saw the biggest increase in cases from the previous seven days, with nine new cases. Overall there were 17 cases in Harper Green in the seven days to December 22, an infection rate of 201.5 per 100,000 people. Blackrod and Butterwick Fields is recording the highest rate per 100,000 residents in Bolton with 314.3 in the seven days to December 22.