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Coronavirus infection rates appear to be stabilizing in Greater Manchester, according to the latest figures.
Bolton still has the highest rate in the country, but it has dropped below 200 cases per 100,000 residents and is now at 189.9.
Similarly, Tameside has fallen back below 100 cases per 100,000 people to 94.5.
Wigan has entered the ‘red alert’ zone for the first time with a rate exceeding 50 cases per 100,000.
However, it should be emphasized that there is no way to know if the overall trend is the result of recent problems with testing or because fewer people are contracting the virus.
The MEN reported yesterday how the total number of positive cases in Greater Manchester increased by more than 50 percent in one day.
576 positive cases were confirmed in the region on Wednesday, compared with 374 on Tuesday.
But that was likely caused by the backlog of tests that were taken that took longer to produce a result.
A more accurate guide to the big picture is the infection rate.
Our latest analysis of the data shows that Oldham is still seeing an increase in cases, but the infection rate has dropped slightly to 110.1.
Salford, Bury and Tameside have rates in the 90s, while Rochdale is at 86.8 and Manchester 84.1.
Only Stockport, 44.3 and Trafford 43.4 remain outside the government’s “red zone.”
There continue to be widespread reports of problems getting a coronavirus test, and people are offered two-hour rides from home or nothing at all.
A city council chief said yesterday that Greater Manchester A&E departments are seeing a “significant” increase in the number of people turning up for a test.
Steve Rumbelow, executive director of the Rochdale council, says there has been a “remarkable change” in people’s behavior in a context of rising infection rates and a “collapsing” testing system.
He said: ‘We have seen, across Greater Manchester, a significant change in that we haven’t seen people showing up at A&E for some time, and now they are showing up, and it’s largely because they can’t get tested. .
“They are not massive numbers, I don’t want to exaggerate, but obviously it is a significant change in terms of behavior and indicates that people are starting to worry.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted it could be “weeks” before the government solves the testing problems.
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