BOLTON has recorded the fewest number of people testing positive for coronavirus since lockdown began

Latest figures released in the government’s weekly Covid-19 surveillance report show that, last week, 14.7 people per 100,000 of the population tested positive with the illness.

This is in stark contrast to neighbouring Blackburn, where the rate is 79.2, and slightly higher than Bury where there were 10 people per 100,000 testing positive last week.

The last time the rate in Bolton was so low was the first week of lockdown, ending on March 29.

The rate of positive tests in the area reached a high of 84.1 in the week ending April 19. Since then, with the occasional slight increase some weeks, the number of positive tests has continued to gradually reduce.

The figures take into account people who have been tested in the community as well hospital and care workers.

Through the North West, to date, there have been 44,410 people who have tested positive for Covid-19. Figures from NHS England released yesterday continue to show no one has died from the disease at the Royal Bolton Hospital since July 10.