The coronavirus infection rate in Bolton is continuing to rise, the latest data shows. The latest Public Health England figures show the transmission rate in the borough now stands at 274 per 100,000 people.
This is almost 12 times the national average of 23. A programme of surge testing began in areas with a BL3 postcode last week after a steep rise in cases, thought to be driven by the B.1.617.2 strain of the virus, often called the Indian variant.
Emergency vaccines were also being administered today, with long queues of people pictured outside vaccine centres. The latest data shows there were 788 positive Covid-19 cases recorded in the borough in the week ending May 12.