Bolton hit with ‘sudden’ coronavirus spike days before lockdown eases as council leader calls for emergency meeting

OFFICIALS in Bolton are to discuss measures to tackle a “concerning, sudden and unpredicted” spike in coronavirus cases.

Bolton, in Greater Manchester, is set to see lockdown eased on Wednesday – but Covid-19 cases in the ares have now risen.

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The decision to lift restrictions in Bolton was announced on Friday.

But daily government data shows 40 new cases were recorded on Bank Holiday Sunday – days before restrictions are planned to be eased.

The rise has prompted Bolton council leader David Greenhalgh to arrange an emergency meeting with council and health officials on Tuesday morning.

In a statement, he said: “I have been in direct communication with council officers this morning about the concerning, sudden unpredicted rise in positive cases in the borough.

“Health officials are collating the current data to provide the full picture for an emergency meeting for officers and the cabinet, set for first thing in the morning, to examine the data in detail and look at the implications.”

For the time being, those in the specified areas will only be banned from entering the homes of other households.

This means that non-essential shops will remain open and people can still go to pubs and restaurants.

But Mr Hancock has not ruled out further lockdown restrictions should the current measures fail to slow the rise in cases.

In his statement he insisted that he was “determined to do whatever is necessary to keep people safe.”