The CORONAVIRUS infection rate has risen slightly in Bolton, with the number of people requiring hospital treatment for Covid-19 also rising.

The borough’s infection rate has been fluctuating over recent months, while regularly recording the lowest rate in the Greater Manchester region.

This is after Bolton was the first borough to see a spike in cases due to the spread of the Delta variant in May, giving the town the highest rate of cases in the country for some time.

Surge testing and vaccination was brought in to bring this under control with the town’s infection rate dropping rapidly after this.

Three boroughs of Greater Manchester are currently recording a lower rate of cases than Bolton – Salford, Manchester, and Oldham. But Bolton is still recording one of the lowest rates in the UK, with Torfaen in Wales recording more than double their rate.

The Bolton News: People leaving after having Covid vaccinations at the ESSA academy in Bolton (PA)People leaving after having Covid vaccinations at the ESSA academy in Bolton (PA)

In the seven days to November 6, Bolton recorded 864 new positive cases of Covid-19, giving the borough an infection rate of 299.7 new cases per 100,000 residents.

This is an increase from the previous seven days, to October 30, where the town saw 813 new positive cases at an infection rate of 282 new cases per 100,000.

This increase in cases has coincided with an increase in deaths and hospitalisation from the virus in the borough.

As of November 2, the latest data publicly available, 46 people were being treated for Covid at the Royal Bolton Hospital. This is 12 more than just over a week before, where 34 patients were being treated at the hospital.

The Bolton News: Covid-19 social distancing sign in Bolton town centreCovid-19 social distancing sign in Bolton town centre

There has been an increase in the number of people requiring ‘mechanical ventilation’ beds for treatment for Covid-19 though. As of November 2 six people were occupying such beds. Just under a week before, on October 27, only one person needed this treatment.

The ratio of people being vaccinated in the borough continues to grow. Just under 69 per cent have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine with more than 77 per cent having had their first. This equates to 394,683 vaccine doses in the borough overall, 208,889 first doses and 185,794 second doses.