Coronavirus

The NHS is reminding those at highest risk of getting seriously unwell if they catch the virus to come forward for their free vaccination and top up their protection this spring

Spring Covid-19 vaccination campaign

Prof Sanjay Arya, medical director and consultant cardiologist at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Doctors reflect on coronavirus pandemic five years on

Lockdowns may have long since passed, but their impact is still being felt in UK schools

5 ways children’s education is still being impacted by the pandemic

Mayor of Wigan Coun Debbie Parkinson

Events for the National Day of Reflection for Covid-19

Some Wigan trials are already scheduled to be taking place at Bolton Crown Court in 2027

GM courts' backlog chaos record

There were 3.2 million recorded entries and exits across the 10 stations in Wigan in the year to March – down 26 per cent on 2020, when there were 4.3 million entries and exits

Still fewer train users than before Covid

Department for Education figures show 69 per cent of children eligible for free school meals in Wigan reached the required standard in a national phonics check at the end of the 2023-24 academic year: higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2018-19, when it was 64.

Trend-bucking poorer children's reading skills improve

Figures show that since the pandemic, children's behaviour, attendance and educational development have all declined

What did Covid do to our children's education?

The spring vaccine is currently available to anyone aged 75 and over, or who will be aged 75 by this Sunday, along with older adult care home residents and people with a weakened immune system aged six-months and over

Last call for spring Covid jab

Appointments are getting under way for the spring Covid-19 vaccination drive

Thousands of life-saving Covid-19 spring jabs to be given to the most vulnerable

At Mesnes Field in Wigan are Iona Fazer – Safer Sphere (construction health and safety); Georgina Roby – Wigan Council, Service Manager – Culture & Events; Jon Hutchinson – Groundwork CLM (lead consultant and site management); Sharon Andrews – Ground Inc (landscape contractors); and Ben Bevan – Hardscape (stone bench manufacturers and paving suppliers)

Covid remembrance sites work begins

Medical staff in full PPE during the Covid pandemic

Reflecting on Covid's impact four years after first British death

Joanne Froggatt starred as Dr Abbey Henderson in ITV's new Covid drama Breathtaking (Picture: ITV/Chris Barr)

Breathtaking review: Covid drama will knock the scabs off our pandemic scars

As of October 13, 228,448 people across the UK had died with Covid-19 on their death certificate by date registered, including 1,392 in Wigan

How many people died in Wigan during coronavirus pandemic

All six teachers took time off work due to sickness, with an average of 17.6 days throughout the 2021/22 academic year.

Schools worst affected by teacher absences last year

Wigan and Leigh court

Latest court round-up
The latest round-up of those who have appeared before Wigan magistrates and in the dock at crown court.
Charles Graham

The spring vaccination programme launched earlier this month

Wigan's 'most vulnerable' are first in line for Covid-19 spring vaccination

The remembrance sites will give residents a space acknowledge the sacrifices and contributions made during the pandemic.

Designs unveiled for Covid-19 remembrance sites across Wigan borough

Extremely strict Covid restrictions were in place in January 2021

Young man walks free after Covid rules breach case collapses

Some 9,927 out of 43,426 total pupils in Wigan missed at least 10 per cent of lesson time in the 2021-22 academic year.

Pandemic made nearly a quarter of pupils miss at least 10 per cent of lessons

Increasing numbers of older people are being admitted to hospital with alcohol problems

More people hospitalised with alcohol problems in Wigan than rest of UK

Coronavirus testing laboratory (library pic)

‘Uncertain’ Covid-19 trend in much of UK although Wigan figures remain stable

Health chiefs are urging people across the North West to get their boosters this 'Jabuary'

Health chiefs urge eligible Wiganers to take up their 'Jabuary' vaccine offer

Below are the areas of Wigan from least to most cases per 100,000 people

Wigan's Covid hotspots as 'Kraken' spreads across the country

The BMA said the "haemorrhage of GPs from practices in England is alarming".

There was no hoped-for increase in Wigan GP numbers last year

The downward trend was reflected in writing. which fell from 70 to 58 per cent, and maths falling from 76 to 68

Wigan children suffer drop in education attainment through coronavirus pandemic

The largest proportion of those working and aged 16 and older in Wigan were employed in construction and civil engineering (11 per cent), followed by retail trade (11 per cent).

Census 2021: Key statistics on Wigan's labour market
New census data reveals how the coronavirus pandemic affected employment and commuting in Wigan last year.
Sonja Tutty

Hospitals in England are dangerously full, say trust leaders

Hospitals 'dangerously' busy warn NHS leaders

Jubilee House in Leyland is closing its doors after administering some 170,000 jabs

The vaccination hub: 170,000 jabs, 30,000 masks, and 1,500 bottles of sanitiser

Department for Education figures show 26.2 per cent of disadvantaged children in Wigan achieved grade five or above in GCSE English and maths in 2021-22, compared to 54.1 per cent for all other children

Disadvantaged pupils fell further behind classmates during the pandemic

Vaccination rates vary throughout Wigan

Covid: Vaccination rates in every area of Wigan revealed

People over 50 can get their autumn Covid booster from Friday, October 14

Wigan over-50s to be invited for Covid booster on Friday

Don't ignore calls to get your COVID-19 booster jab

People urged not to ignore COVID-19 booster invitation

Resident Pat Taylor receiving her vaccination

Care home becomes first in Wigan to offer autumn Covid-19 boosters to residents

Covid booster jab: Millions are eligible for an autumn vaccination

Covid booster: New jab available to millions from today

Hand sanitiser in a classroom during the pandemic

More than 150 Wigan pupils excluded for breaching Covid-19 rules

There are still thousands of unvaccinated people in Wigan

Covid: Thousands still unvaccinated in Wigan

Coronavirus is still rising in the majority of neighbourhoods in Wigan

The 21 out of 29 areas of Wigan where Covid infections have risen in a week

The campaign highlights the importance of using condoms

Wigan sexual health clinic champions a summer of safe fun

Covid cases are rising in most areas of Wigan

The 25 out of 29 areas of Wigan where Covid cases have risen in a week

The fifth wave of Covid continues to gather pace across Wigan

Covid in Wigan: These are the areas where cases have risen in a week

Covid cases are climbing again in Wigan

The 19 out of 29 areas of Wigan where Covid cases are climbing again

Covid is on the rise again

North West shows steep rise in Covid hospitalisations

HRH The Prince of Wales hosts a reception for the Community Pharmacists Reception with the National Pharmacy Association at St James's Palace.

Boss of Wigan pharmacy meets Prince of Wales at Covid heroes thank-you event

Covid is largely on the decline in Wigan

Three areas of Wigan have shown an increase in Covid cases

Yet another Covid-19 variant has been detected - the XJ variant

Omicron XJ: Everything you need to know about the new Covid variant

Reminding people to stay aware of coronavirus symptoms and to take lateral flow test

Beware of coronavirus symptoms and take lateral flow test urges leading pharmacy

Is it Covid, a cold or the flu - these are the main differences

Is it Covid, a cold or the flu? Here's how to tell the difference

Prof Kate Ardern, director of public health for Wigan Council

Airport mayhem ‘an example of Covid’s re-emergence’, Wigan health boss warns

Covid is still climbing in some neighbourhoods in Wigan

The 15 areas of Wigan where positive Covid cases have increased

The ever-changing coronavirus

Is the new highly infectious 'Covid XE' variant in the North West?

Nine new symptoms of Covid have been listed on the NHS website

These are the NINE new Covid symptoms to look out for according to the NHS

Covid is still rising across Wigan

Covid in Wigan: These are the 27 out of 29 areas of Wigan where positive coronav...

Testing for coronavirus

Huge upsurge in Wigan "stealth omicron" cases

Wigan's Covid death toll is now into four figures

Wigan's shock Covid death toll

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