THE number of people in Bolton testing positive for coronavirus is continuing to rise.

According to official government figures 200 people were recorded as having the disease today. It takes the total number of people in the borough confirmed as contracting the illness to 1,566 in the last seven days, an increase of 51.3 per cent on the previous week and taking the infection rate in the town to 441.3 cases per 100,000 of popularion.

Three people in the borough are also recorded as having died today within 28 days of testing positive for the virus, making the total number of deaths for the week as 10, three more than the previous seven days.

In the North West 1,725 people have been admitted to hospital with coronavirus symptoms, including 252 on Wednesday, the last day figures are available for.