Delta Plus: how widespread is the Covid-19 variant in your area of Greater Manchester?

A mutated form of Covid-19 may now account for up to two in five cases in parts of England, research shows.

Officials designated the strain AY.4.2, nicknamed Delta Plus, a ‘variant under investigation’ on October 20.

Scientists have said it may spread more easily than the standard Delta strain, but there is no evidence that it cause more serious illness.

There is also no evidence that the three Covid vaccines used in the UK are any less effective against the new strain.

Preliminary findings from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, one of the research bodies that works with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), show potential hotspots.

It analysed more than 26,000 positive Covid-19 tests from the week to 30 October.

The research is provisional, but gives more detail than the official figures published by the UK Health Security Agency.

Here are the statistics for Greater Manchester from the research for the percentage of Covid cases that were the Delta Plus variant for the week to 30 October.

1. Tameside: 29.49%

2. Stockport: 23.01%

3. Manchester: 16.88%

4. Rochdale: 13.4%

5. Bolton: 12%

6. Oldham: 9.76%

7. Wigan: 9.48%

8. Trafford: 9.09%

9. Bury: 6.76%

10. Salford: no cases identified as being the variant