THERE have been 53 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in the borough in Tuesday's statistics.

Tuesday's figure has recorded 53 cases for the 24 hours up to 9am that day, a reduction on the 61 in Monday's.

It indicates a steady rise with the figure in line with numbers over recent days.

Sunday's figure of 54 and there were 59 new cases found on Saturday, 49 on Friday, 39 on Thursday and 52 recorded in last Wednesday's numbers.

The health body includes in the statistics Pillar two tests – those carried out in the wider community – alongside Pillar one tests, which are analysed in NHS Hospitals or PHE laboratories.

READ > Coronavirus: Breakdown of St Helens cases by area and age

The boorugh has been placed on "red alert" due to the rising rate.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases in Tuesday's figures increased by 4,926.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also announced national restrictions yesterday in response to the growing national rate.

These include all pubs and restaurants in England closing at 10pm and people being asked to work from home, if they can.

The latest figures mean that 2,954 people in Wigan borough have been confirmed as testing positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

The total rate of infection in the borough since the start of the outbreak in March now stands at 898.8 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of 618.

Cumulative counts include asymptomatic cases, patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.