Coronavirus infection rate for Bolton and Greater Manchester

Bolton has been recording an infection rate upward of 250 new cases per 100,000 people since early May when there was a sharp spike in infections due to the Delta variant of Covid-19.

This spread was brought under control through surge testing and vaccinations, only to spike again in early July.

• Three more coronavirus deaths at Bolton Hospital

However, cases are now falling at an extremely fast rate giving the borough its lowest infection rate since the start of May, and staying below the national average as cases in many other areas of the country continue to rise.

A Covid social distancing sign in Bolton town centre

In the seven days to July 30 Bolton recorded 609 new positive cases of Covid-19, equalling an infection rate of 211.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

• 'We do not have anywhere for patients to sit or lie' ­—pressures facing Royal Bolton Hospital A&E and why

This is a sharp fall from the previous seven days, to July 23, where the town recorded an infection rate of 385.3 per 100,000 residents.

Covid rates are falling across the rest of the Greater Manchester region, with Bolton still recording the lowst number of cases.

Neighbouring Salford is recording the highest amount of cases in the city-region, with Rochdale, Oldham, and Manchester all also recording a rate of over 300 cases per 100,000 residents.

Greater Manchester infection rates

From left to right: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to July 30; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to July 30; rate of new cases in the seven days to July 23; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to July 23.

Salford, 422.3, (1093), 541.3, (1401)

Manchester, 348.6, (1927), 428.5, (2369)

Oldham, 338.2, (802), 552.1, (1309)

Rochdale, 303.0, (674), 501.8, (1116)

Bury, 292.2, (558), 413.1, (789)

Tameside, 289.6, (656), 513.0, (1162)

Stockport, 288.7, (847), 462.8, (1358)

Trafford, 288.6, (685), 417.9, (992)

Wigan, 283.9, (933), 530.6, (1744)

Bolton, 211.8, (609), 385.3, (1108)