COVID rates in Bolton are falling with less than four per cent of households testing positive for the virus - but health chiefs say they are not complacent and coronavirus is still here.

Public Health in Bolton is continuing to work with the UK Health Security Agency to prevent and tackle any outbreak of infections through ‘targeted outbreak management arrangements’.

Public health chiefs the virus is continuing to change and new variants will emerge.

But they added: “We are all in a better place to be ready for surges at the present time compared to earlier in the pandemic”.

The vaccination programme is said to protect people from serious illness from the virus and fewer people are needing hospital treatment and intensive care as was the case previously Bolton Council’s Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Lowey, said: “COVID-19 has not gone away and we all have a responsibility to protect each other by following simple measures to stop the virus from spreading.

“These include letting fresh air in when meeting others indoors, continuing to wear a face covering in crowded areas, washing hands regularly and staying at home if you feel unwell.

“Anyone who has not yet had all the vaccinations they are eligible for should do so as soon as possible.”

• Walk in vaccination clinics are being offered around the borough currently and information is available on Bolton CCG website/facebook and twitter pages