NEW statistics from Public Health England show how the borough's infection rate has changed over the past week.

Data for the seven days to July 25 showed that although the borough had dropped down the list to the 16th highest infection rate of all 315 authorities, the infection rate continued to stay high.

Reporting 45 new cases over that week, an infection rate of 15.8 cases per 100,000 people – more than double the national rate of seven per 100,000.

Although the rate hasn't dropped, Bolton continues to slide down the table due to other areas reporting spikes in cases.

Nearby areas of Salford, Manchester, Trafford, Rochdale, Oldham, and Blackburn with Darwen have all seen higher infection rates.

Cases in Salford rose to 43, a rate of 16.9, whilst Manchester reported 117 new cases, a rate of 21.4.

Trafford's figures rose to 80 new cases, 33.8 per 100,000 people, giving the borough the fifth highest infection rate in the country.

Oldham rose to the third most infected areas, reporting 119 new infections, a rate of 50.5.

Blackburn with Darwen has seen a slight dip in new cases, reporting 115 new infections for a rate of 77.2, 11 times higher than the national average.

Rochdale, which also saw local measures put in place to prevent the spread of the virus, has also seen a drop, slipping to the sixth highest spot with 73 new cases, for a rate of 33.2.

Leicester, the first area to have a local lockdown instated, remains second on the list, although the rate continues to drop, with 199 new cases for a rate of 56 over the last week.

The figures are based on pillar one and pillar two coronavirus tests, those carried out in laboratories for hospital patients and healthcare workers, and tests from the wider community such as postal tests and those from testing sites.

Data for the most recent three days, July 26-28, has been excluded as it is incomplete and may be revised.

So far, 1,948 people have tested positive for covid-19 in the borough, with 226 patients dying at Royal Bolton Hospital after contracting the virus.

No new coronavirus-related deaths have been reported at the borough's hospital for over two weeks, with the last patient death linked to covid-19 taking place on July 10.