Bolton remains the place in England with the highest rate of coronavirus infections, new data has revealed.
Public Health England figures show the town recorded 552 new Covid-19 cases in the seven days to September 10 – the equivalent of 192 cases per 100,000 people.
It represents a significant jump in infections, with a rate of 126.2 cases per 100,000 recorded the week before.
The increase comes despite the government implementing even tougher lockdown restrictions for the town, including a strict curfew for bars and restaurants.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the 14-day infection rate across the UK is currently 48.6 cases per 100,000 people.
But Bolton is not alone – four other areas of England also have rates that are now higher than 100 cases per 100,000, the PA news agency reported.
Areas of England with the highest rates of Covid-19
Bolton: 126.2 cases per 100,000 people
Blackburn with Darwen: 118.2 cases per 100,000 people
Hyndburn: 114.8 cases per 100,000 people
Oadby and Wigston: 114 cases per 100,000 people
Preston: 102 cases per 100,000 people
PA made the calculations based on Public Health England data published on September 13 on the government’s coronavirus dashboard.
The latest data from Public Health England also reveals that more than 1,000 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in Birmingham in the week leading up to September 10.
A total of 1,014 new cases were recorded – the equivalent of 88.8 cases per 100,000 people, up from 53 in the previous week.
From Tuesday, people in Birmingham – along with those in Solihull and Sandwell – will be banned from mixing with other households in a bid to stop the surge in cases.
Other cities which recorded sharp increases in their weekly rate included Sunderland, which recorded 262 new cases, Liverpool (424 new cases), Manchester (428 new cases) and Leeds (554 new cases).
Areas with increasing coronavirus rates
Sunderland: 94.3 cases per 100,000 people, up from 34.2
Liverpool: 85.1 cases per 100,000 people, up from 32.9
Manchester: 77.4 cases per 100,000 people, up from 54.3
Leeds: 69.8 cases per 100,000 people, up from 48.4
In total, 210 of the 315 local authority areas in England recorded an increase in the weekly rate of new Covid-19 cases in the seven days to September 10.
The rate fell in 91 areas and was unchanged in 14 areas.
New cases were recorded in all 315 local authority areas.
On Sunday, the UK reported 3,330 new cases of coronavirus.
It comes amid a surge in infections, with more than 3,500 new cases recorded on Friday for the first time in almost four months.