The coronavirus infection rate has continued to rise in Bolton.

The rate of cases in the borough has been remaining relatively low over recent months, consistently being the lowest in Greater Manchester.

However, over recent days it has begun to rise again.

Bolton was the first 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.

The Bolton News: An electronic Covid notice board in Bolton town centre (PA)An electronic Covid notice board in Bolton town centre (PA)

In the seven days to November 7, Bolton recorded 868 new positive cases of Covid-19, equalling an infection rate of 301.1 new positive cases per 100,000 residents.

This is an increase from the previous seven days, to October 31, where the borough recorded a rate of infection of 284.5 new cases per 100,000 people.

Bolton is the only borough in Greater Manchester to be recording an increase in cases in the past seven days, with all nine other boroughs seeing a drop in infections.

The Bolton News: Covid-19 testing in Bolton town centre (PA)Covid-19 testing in Bolton town centre (PA)

Salford (267.2), Manchester (264.3), and Oldham (252.1) all have a lower infection rate than Bolton.

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 November 7; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to November 7; rate of new cases in the seven days to October 31; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to October 31.

Rochdale, North-west England, 368.0, (823), 401.5, (898)

Tameside, North-west England, 361.0, (820), 436.8, (992)

Trafford, North-west England, 353.1, (839), 458.8, (1090)

Bury, North-west England, 351.3, (670), 438.9, (837)

Stockport, North-west England, 335.8, (988), 439.2, (1292)

Wigan, North-west England, 329.0, (1088), 391.3, (1294)

Bolton, North-west England, 301.1, (868), 284.5, (820)

Salford, North-west England, 267.2, (702), 316.0, (830)

Manchester, North-west England, 264.3, (1469), 291.7, (1621)

Oldham, North-west England, 252.1, (599), 276.5, (657)