Covid-19 case rate in Wigan continues to fall

There were 837 new cases of Covid-19 identified in the seven-day period between January 23 and January 29.

This gives a rate of 254.7 cases per 100,000 residents.

This places Wigan sixth-highest among the 10 Greater Manchester authorities and also puts it lower than the North West average of 299.1 cases per 100,000 people.

Rates also remain higher in the neighbouring authorities of West Lancashire, St Helens and Warrington.

The borough's rate showed a decline from the previous week, mirroring both regional and national trends.

Figures from the borough's 25 wards showed clear declines, with 23 of those areas having fewer cases in the latest statistics, which cover January 21 to January 27, than in the previous week.

Ashton had the highest rate of cases for the latest week, followed by Leigh West.

The two wards which saw an increase were Wigan Central, which had a 38 per cent rise, and Aspull, New Springs and Whelley where cases went up by 20 per cent.

Hindley Green saw the largest decrease, with the second-biggest drop in Hindley.

There was also a decrease in the number of deaths registered in Wigan mentioning Covid-19 from the previous week.

In the most recent statistics, which cover the week ending January 22, there were 23 death certificates with the novel coronavirus on them. That is a decline of nine from the previous week.

Wigan Council chief executive Alison McKenzie-Folan tweeted that the figures were encouraging and urged residents to continue abiding by restrictions.

She said the borough's rate of cases among over-60s was now the lowest in Greater Manchester.

Ms McKenzie-Folan said: "It’s tough but thank you for sticking to the restrictions, you are bringing our rates down."

She added that 47,000 people have now received at least one vaccination dose and asked residents to continue staying at home.

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