THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Bolton increased by 377 over the weekend - and the infection rate is still rocketing

Bolton’s weekly Covid infection rate is is 10 times higher than the English average, as it was revealed that it has risen to 274 cases per 100,000 over the weekend. It was 228.5 on Friday.

However, the rate of new cases among people in the town aged 60 and over is just 59.9, up from 35.3 a week earlier.

By contrast, the rate for those aged 10-19 in Bolton currently stands at 486.2 per 100,000.

Bolton accounted for a third of Covid cases in the North West over the weekend - and for more than six per cent of cases in England.

It comes as Covid restrictions eased across the UK, with indoor hospitality reopening. 

Millions can now socialise indoors in limited numbers, hug loved ones and visit pubs and restaurants inside.

The ban on foreign travel has also been lifted and replaced with new rules.

Downing Street has said the Government is 'proceeding cautiously' with the lifting of coronavirus restrictions despite the risk from the Indian variant.

Asked whether the Prime Minister agreed with Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng that there was nothing to suggest the June 21 lifting would be delayed, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The PM set out the position last week, you know we are proceeding cautiously, we will keep a close eye on the data and as the Business Secretary made clear this morning currently there’s nothing in the data to suggest we can’t proceed.

“But obviously we are keeping a very watchful eye on the outbreaks of the variant first identified in India, and particularly what impact it has on hospitalisation rates, and things like that.”