Greater Manchester's Covid hotspots as government urges people to be 'sensible' amid rising cases

An area of Stockport currently has the highest rate of coronavirus cases in Greater Manchester, the latest figures show.

It comes as a government minister urged people to be 'sensible' and for those eligible for a booster to come forward and get jabbed with cases again rising across the UK.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that around one in 50 people in England had Covid in the week ending September 26 – up by a quarter – with more than 9,500 patients in hospital with the virus.

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One area in our region currently has a rate of above 300 cases per 100,000 of population. That is Brinnington in Stockport, which recorded 24 new cases in the seven day period ending October 1, giving it a total of 26 cases and a rate of 342.1.

The rate in two other areas is also currently above 200. Droylsden Central in Tameside currently has 23 cases, up by 15 or 187.5pc in the past week, giving it a rate of 244.8.

Swinton Worsley Road in Salford, which recorded 21 cases, has a rate of 218.9. Three others; Bramhall South & Woodford in Stockport (185.7), Tyldesley South in Wigan (179.8) and Redvales and Hollins in Bury (165.8) also have rates over 150.

This week, Dr Mary Ramsay, from the UK Health Security Agency, said the rises have coincided with people returning from their summer holidays and children going back to school.

Her colleague at the agency, chief medical adviser Dr Susan Hopkins, warned that with cases and hospitalisation rates at their "highest level in months," people need to help protect the most vulnerable.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadeem Zahawi was today (Sunday)