Bolton is no longer recording the highest coronavirus infection rate in Greater Manchester.

This is due to both cases in the borough falling in recent weeks and the other nine boroughs of Greater Manchester, and the north west as a whole, seeing a significant spike in cases in recent weeks.

Boris Johnson today announced that lockdown measures would not be eased on June 21 as originally planned due to a spike in cases across the country, with July 19 the new date set for the dropping of restrictions.

This is due to the Delta variant of Covid-19 spreading across the country, and causing an increase in cases, especially across the north west.

Bolton saw a spike in infections around late-April and early-May, which triggered a response from the local community and public health teams, with surge vaccinations and testing since then meaning cases are now decreasing in the town.

In the seven days to June 10, Bolton recorded 888 new positive cases of Covid-19, equalling an infection rate of 308.8 new cases per 100,000 residents.

This is a decrease from the previous seven days, to June 3, where Bolton recorded a rate of 321 per 100,000.

This gives Bolton the eighth highest infection rate in the country, with Blackburn with Darwen (599.2 per 100,000) recording by far the highest rate in the country, and second highest in Greater Manchester.

Bolton is now second highest in GM as Salford has seen a significant spike in cases over the last seven days.

In the seven days to June 10, Salford recorded 806 new positive cases of Covid-19, equalling an infection rate of 311.4 cases per 100,000 residents.

This is compared to 212.5 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to June 3.

Manchester and Bury have also seen a large spike in cases recently, with the two boroughs recording a rate of 300.4 and 262.3 new positive cases per 100,000 residents respectively.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said earlier today as surge testing, tracing, isolation, and vaccinations were deployed to more areas in the north west and Birmingham: “We are doing everything we can to stop the spread of the Delta variant, and working with local authorities, we are providing a strengthened package of support in areas where cases of the variant are increasing.

“We know this approach has made a real impact in south London and in Bolton where we have seen it stall rising cases.

“I urge people living these areas to get tested, come forward for your vaccine as soon as you are eligible and make sure to get the all-important second jab – that is how we will beat this virus.”

Greater Manchester infection rates

From left to right: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to June 10; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to June 10; rate of new cases in the seven days to June 3; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to June 3.

Salford, 311.4, (806), 212.5, (550)

Bolton, 308.8, (888), 321.0, (923)

Manchester, 300.4, (1661), 210.0, (1161)

Bury, 262.3, (501), 189.5, (362)

Stockport, 233.1, (684), 166.3, (488)

Wigan, 230.9, (759), 131.4, (432)

Rochdale, 209.1, (465), 132.6, (295)

Trafford, 197.6, (469), 131.0, (311)

Oldham, 174.2, (413), 91.5, (217)

Tameside, 162.5, (368), 89.2, (202)