FIGURES released by the government have shown a drastic shift in covid-19 infections reported in each area over the last week – with over 50 infections reported in Kearsley and Stoneclough.

The Bolton neighbourhood is now the worst-hit area in the borough, with 51 residents testing positive for the virus between September 6 and 12. This is the highest number of infections recorded in a single Bolton area, and has risen sharply from the ten new cases seen the week before.

Tonge has the second-highest number of new infections, at 31, whilst Rumworth South and Lostock and Ladybridge have both reported 25 new cases.

Data from Public Health England has been used to detail each confirmed case of coronavirus by Middle Super Output Area, sections of around 7,200 people.

By September 14, 564 new cases were confirmed in people tested during the week to September 12.

All 35 of Bolton's neighbourhoods have now reported three or more infections of the virus, just three weeks after Little Lever was the most infectious area with six new cases.

Now, the area is the fifth most infectious neighbourhood, with 23 new cases reported.

At the other end of the scale, Blackrod and Butterwick Fields has reported just three new cases, down from four seen the week before.

Horwich North and Westhoughton Daisy Hill have both reported four infections, whilst Horwich South and Middlebrook has recorded six new cases.