Covid-19 infection rates continuing to rise across Greater Manchester in latest official statistics

Coronavirus infection rates are continuing to grow across Greater Manchester, the latest official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released figures for the percentage of the population in each local authority area in the city-region who tested positive in the week up to 29 June.

It shows that the rising case numbers which has now been a trend for a couple of weeks is still going on.

Health experts say the rising infection rates are being driven by the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.

Manchester’s public health boss has called for anyone eligible for the spring booster jab who has not yet had it to come forward.

What does the data show for Greater Manchester?

The highest percentage of people testing positive for Covid-19 in the latest week (up to 29 June) in Greater Manchester was in Bolton, where 4.5% of the population had the novel coronavirus.

In Tameside and Stockport 4.2% had Covid, while the percentage testing positive was 4.1% in Oldham and 4% in Rochdale.

In Salford and Manchester 3.9% of the population tested positive, while it was 3.8% in Trafford and Wigan and 3.7% in Bury.

In Bolton one in 20 people had Covid-19 in the latest week, while everywhere else in Greater Manchester the rate was 1 in 25.

In the previous week (the one ending 25June) the rates across the city-region were 1 in 25 and 1 in 30 people, and none of the 10 boroughs in Greater Manchester had reached 4% of people testing positive within the week.

About the data

Due to the rollback of the official Covid-19 testing apparatus far fewer people are now doing lateral flow or PCR tests than was the case earlier in the pandemic.

That means the ONS is now using computer modelling to estimate the infection rates across the country.

The data is provisional and subject to revision.

The ONS says there are some overlaps between the weeks due to delays in getting results back from laboratories and where public holidays fall, but stresses the datasets for each week can be directly compared to give an idea of whether infection rates are rising or falling.

What has been said about Covid-19 infection rates?

A total of 2.7 million people across the country are estimated to have had the virus last week, the latest monitoring reveals. This is up 18% from the 2.3 million cases in the previous week, marking the highest estimate for total infections since late April.

However, infection levels are still below the record high of 4.9 million which was reached at the end of March. Separate NHS data shows hospitalisations also continue to climb.

Dr Mary Ramsay, director of clinical programmes at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “We continue to see COVID-19 case rates and hospitalisations rise in all age groups, with the largest increases in hospitalisations and ICU admissions in those aged 75 and older.

“There is likely to be a substantial amount of waning immunity in older people who have not taken up the booster on schedule, so we can expect these rises to continue over the coming weeks and throughout July.”

What has been said in Manchester?

As case numbers keep going up Manchester’s public health chief is calling out to anyone who was due a spring Covid booster and has not yet taken up the offer to come forward as soon as possible.

The fourth vaccine dose was offered to people most at risk from the virus, including those aged 75 and over, people in care homes and those aged 12 years or over with a weakened immune system.

Manchester health bosses are particularly keen to ensure older residents have been vaccinated.

David Regan, Manchester’s director of public health, said: “Please don’t leave anything to chance, especially while we know that Covid numbers are increasing again.

“And, if you have any fears or questions at all, just ring our free Manchester Covid Helpline, which is staffed by our nursing team. They want to help and we all know that it’s good to talk through any worries.”

To find out more call the Manchester Covid helpline on 0800 840 3858 or text 07890 036 892. The helpline is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm and a translation service is available.

Further information about getting vaccinated is also available on the Manchester City Council website here.