Covid infection rate rises sharply across Greater Manchester

Bolton's Covid infection rate has also risen, but the borough is still recording one of the lowest rates in the region and in the UK as a whole.

Bolton has had the highest rate in the country on a few occasions, most recently in May when the town was the first area to see a spike in infections due to the spread of the Delta variant of Covid.

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Surge testing and vaccinations were implemented after this, which has helped to give Bolton the lowest infection rate for Greater Manchester for some time.

A Covid-19 social distancing sign in Bolton town centre

In the seven days to October 9, Bolton recorded 790 new positive cases of coronavirus, equalling an infection rate of 274.1 new cases per 100,000 residents.

This is an increase from the previous seven days, to October 2, where the town saw an infection rate of 242.2 per 100,000.

All nine other boroughs in Greater Manchester have seen a rise in cases. However, Manchester is the only borough to be recording fewer cases than Bolton.

Covid rates in Trafford are currently the highest in the country. This is driven largely by infection rates in our school population, who thankfully are less likely to be very ill from Covid. While there is no need to panic, please do follow public health guidelines and stay safe

— Andrew Western (@AndrewHWestern) October 11, 2021

Trafford is now seeing the highest infection rate in the whole UK as the number of positive Covid-19 cases in the area rose sharply in recent days.

In the seven days to October 9, Trafford recorded 2,006 new positive cases of Covid at an infection rate of 844.4 per 100,000 residents.

Bolton Hospital also confirmed a death from coronavirus in the latest data. One person died at the hospital on October 11, according to NHS England.

Greater Manchester infection rates

From left to right: name of local authority; nation or region of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to October 9; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to October 9; rate of new cases in the seven days to October 2; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to October 2.

Trafford, North-west England, 844.4, (2006), 568.2, (1350)

Stockport, North-west England, 586.3, (1725), 530.6, (1561)

Tameside, North-west England, 507.2, (1152), 453.5, (1030)

Wigan, North-west England, 388.0, (1283), 320.5, (1060)

Bury, North-west England, 355.0, (677), 285.3, (544)

Oldham, North-west England, 353.1, (839), 295.8, (703)

Rochdale, North-west England, 352.3, (788), 227.6, (509)

Salford, North-west England, 341.8, (898), 311.4, (818)

Bolton, North-west England, 274.1, (790), 242.2, (698)

Manchester, North-west England, 272.8, (1516), 222.6, (1237)