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.

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In the seven days to February 2, Bolton recorded 805 new positive cases of coronavirus, putting the borough’s infection rate at 280 per 100,000 residents.

Manchester, which has often been recording the highest numbers of cases and therefore infection rate has seen both of these drop significantly recently.

Neighbouring Bury’s rate is one that has dropped at a quick rate, recording nearly half the amount of cases compared to Bolton in the seven days to February 2 (407), at an infection rate of 213.1.

The number of cases and infection rate varies wildly across different areas of the borough.

Dunscar and Egerton and Harwood have the lowest number of cases with seven and 5 respectively in the seven days to February 2.

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This gave Dunscar and Egerton an infection rate of 93.2 and Harwood 61.5 per 100,000 residents.

However, a lot of areas of Bolton have an infection rate above the national average of around 220 per 100,000.

Rumworth North (437.4), Doffcocker and Moss Bank (439.1), Horwich North (541.3), Westhoughton West (585.4), Westhoughton Daisy Hill (492.2), and Atherton North (423.3) are the areas of Bolton with the highest number of positive Covid-19 cases and therefore the highest infection rates.

Bolton Council’s director of public health, Dr Lowey, has asked people to follow coronavirus rules to get the town’s rate down.

She said: “Along with other parts of Greater Manchester, the dominant variant of Covid-19 in Bolton is the one that was first detected in the South East just before Christmas.

“This variant can pass from one person to another much more easily, which means it is vital to follow the rules at all times and ensure the virus does not have a chance to spread.

“Stay at home and only leave for essential reasons. If you do go out, maintain a strict 2-metre distance from others, wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, wear a face covering, and avoid unventilated indoor areas.”

Cllr Sue Baines, council cabinet member for wellbeing, who has been volunteering to administer vaccines at Tonge Moor Health Centre, furthered this plea, urging people not to be complacent,

She said: “I have seen first-hand the incredible effort that is going into Bolton’s fight against the coronavirus, but now is not the time to be complacent. I urge everyone to make sure they are doing all they can to stop the virus spreading.”

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