COVID-19 infection rate in the region. In Manchester, the infection rate has increased to 42.3 - up from 40.7 in the previous seven day period.If the rate reaches 50, the area will be placed on a 'red alert' on the government watch list.There were a total of 1,048 positive tests across Greater Manchester in the seven day period ending on August 12.This is slightly lower than the previous day but is still a 19 per cent increase on the previous week.Around a quarter of those positive test results were in Oldham, with 257 cases recorded in the town.The numbers continue to climb in Oldham - up 42 per cent week on week - but the rise has been slightly less rapid in the last two days.- These charts are based on data released by Public Health.