CORONAVIRUS infection rates in the town have been fluctuating over recent weeks.

The borough saw a huge spike in infections in late April and early May due to the spread of the Delta variant, which gave Bolton the highest infection rate in the country for some time.

During the last few weeks of July and the start of August cases had dropped significantly, giving the borough the lowest rate in Greater Manchester.

For much of September, the number of cases being recorded in the borough was rising. But in the most recent figures, cases had fallen again.

Bolton unfortunately is no longer recording the lowest infection rate in Greater Manchester, with Manchester now the lowest after a sharp fall in recent infections.

There is a varying story across Bolton, with some areas recording few cases of Covid-19 in recent days, while some areas have seen a significant increase.

Little Lever has the the highest rate of Covid cases in Bolton having recorded 48 new positive cases in the seven days to September 14, for an infection rate of 485.5 per 100,000 people.

Hall i’th’ Wood had a rate of 403.9, with 34 new positive cases, Horwich South with Middlebrook (366.6), Horwich North, and Highfield with New Bury (363.9 were also among the borough’s highest rates.

There are still many areas recording a low amount of cases. Eagley and Sharples had just six cases in the seven days to September 14. This is 22 fewer than the previous week, for an infection rate of 70.8 per 100,000.

Smithills (77.5) is also recording an infection rate under 100, having seen 13 fewer cases than the previous seven days. Halliwell and Brownlow Fold had 104.8 per 100,000 despite seeing one extra case compared to last week.

Breightmet South with Darcy Lever saw its infection rate plummet. The area recorded 45 fewer cases of Covid-19 in the seven days to September 14 compared to the previous week giving it an infection rate of 113.7.

To view an interactive map of Covid cases in Bolton, visit coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map/cases online.