Bolton is defying the national trend on deaths from Covid – as fatalities are currently falling in the borough.

The latest figures from Public Health England show the number of deaths which were recorded within 28 days of a positive test for the virus is going up by a worrying 53.9 per cent.

There have been 2,062 fatalities measured in this way nationally in the past seven days.

However Bolton is not following this pattern.

The latest figures shows there have been eight deaths in the last week, down from nine in the previous seven days.

However Bolton’s death rate throughout the pandemic remains above the national average.

There have been 977 deaths in the town which came within 28 days of a positive test.

The rate works out as one of 338.9 per 100,000, above the national rate of 260.1.

There have been 986 deaths in Bolton where Covid was recorded as the official cause.

The number of cases recorded in the town however matches the national picture.

The latest figures show there have been 384 positive test in Bolton in the last week.

The number has come down 159 from the previous seven days, meaning cases are currently falling by 29.3 per cent.

Across the UK cases are falling at similar rate of 30.2 per cent.

 Cases in Bolton peaked this year on January 3 when 1258 were found. A later surge saw them rise as high as 288 on March 21 but the figures have fallen steadily since.

The rate of Covid per 100,000 people in the centre of Bolton stands at 85.8, well below the national rate of 217.8.

Bolton’s vaccination rate is also below the national average.

218,254 people in the town have had their first dose of the vaccine, 202,763 have had their second and 144,566 have had a booster.

The figures work out at 80.2 per cent, 74.5 per cent and 53.1 per cent of those aged 12 and above.

Across the country 92.4 per cent have had a first dose, 86.4 per cent a second and 68.2 per cent have had a booster.