Bolton and Manchester put on coronavirus ‘red alert’ as infections rocket to the highest in a day since April

BOLTON and Manchester have been placed on red alert after Greater Manchester recorded its biggest daily rise in coronavirus cases since April.

A total of five boroughs in the region have been put on the government's highest alert after recording weekly infection rates above 50 cases per 100,000 population.

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Infections rates rose in every borough of Greater Manchester except Rochdale and Trafford in the week to September 3.

Figures show that 283 people tested positive for the virus on September 2, the largest single-day rise since 328 people were diagnosed on April 29.

Bolton and Manchester were placed on red alert after recording 115.8 and 50.1 cases per 100,000 population respectively over the last seven-day period, the reported.

The news comes after Bolton residents were told to avoid mixing with anyone from outside their own household and to use public transport only when necessary following a local spike.

Bolton's infection rate is currently the highest in England and is reported to be doubling each week.

In a joint statement, councillors David Greenhalgh and Tony Oakman, the leader and chief executive of Bolton Council, said that "now, more than ever, we need everyone in Bolton to play their part".

"It has been a tough period for individuals, families and businesses but we don’t want to throw away all our hard work by allowing the infection rate to rise even higher," they said.

Also on red alert are Oldham, Salford, and Tameside, where 59.9, 58.0, and 50.3 cases per 100,000 people were recorded.

The equivalent figures in Rochdale, Bury, and Trafford were 49.5, 42.4, and 31.2, with all three boroughs now on amber alert.

Wigan and Stockport remain on green, with 21.9 and 18.7 cases per 100,000 people.

The UK as a whole is also seeing a rise in infection rates, with 2,988 new cases confirmed in the last 24 hours.

The figure is the highest daily rise for the country since May 23, when 2,959 people were diagnosed.

Asked about the spike, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "The rise in the number of cases that we have seen today is concerning.

"The cases are predominantly among younger people but we have seen in other countries across the world and in Europe this sort of rise in the cases among younger people lead to a rise across the population as a whole.

"It so important that people don’t allow this illness to infect their grandparents and to lead to the sort of problems that we saw earlier in the year."