THE threat of a 'firebreak' lockdown has not found favour with people in Bolton.

Reports have suggested a 'firebreak' lockdown could take place in October if hospitalisations continue to rise and the NHS becomes overwhelmed.

Bolton has previously suffered from localised lockdowns during the pandemic, when case rates remained far higher than the national average.

The borough currently has the lowest infection rate in Greater Manchester, with a rate of 240.4 per 100,000.

Cllr Andy Morgan, the borough's adult social care cabinet member, said: "Bolton currently has some of the lowest infection rates in the North West and any suggestion of a possible circuit breaker lockdown is premature and completely unnecessary.

“Any additional lockdown would be detrimental not only for residents’ health and wellbeing but disastrous for the local economy and business and should be avoided at all costs.”

Residents have mixed views about the possibility of such a lockdown.

David Yewdall said: “[Boris] constantly changes his mind and constantly does U-turns.”

Another reader added: “Why haven’t we had one already, with the thousands catching [the] Delta [variant]?”

Bolton was the first area in the North West to see an increase in Covid cases due to the spread of the Delta variant in May.

This led to surge in vaccinations for Bolton residents, as well as an increase in testing throughout the borough.

The latest figures show nearly 200,000 people in Bolton have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, whilst approximately 180,000 have now received their second jab.

A government scientific adviser claimed contingency plans had been drawn up in response to an increase in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations.

But a government spokesman said the plans were “not true”, claiming the measures would only be implemented as a “last resort” to relieve pressure on the NHS.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he had not considered a 'firebreak' lockdown as an option at this time, adding: "I think the decisions that we’ve made in the last few weeks and certainly in the time I’ve been Health Secretary, I think they’ve turned out to be the right decisions.”