CORONAVIRUS infection rates across Greater Manchester have fallen again as leaders battle to boost its track and trace system with Covid-19 variants spreading in the community.
In an online press conference today, Greater Manchester deputy mayor Sir Richard Leese released data that showed the regions seven-day rate of positive Covid-19 cases per 100,000 was 266.6 in the week up to January 29.
That rate had dropped from 321.5 the week before.
Bolton's rate decreased from 332.8 to 275.4 in the same period.
The seven-date rate of positive Covid-19 tests per 100,000 people in Greater Manchester and the 10 regions
Sir Richard, who leads on healthcare in the region, said intensive care unit capacity in Greater Manchester hospitals reached a peak of 281 patients – with and without Covid-19 – which was "close to the limit".
It is is expected that pressure will continue to be high in hospitals for the next three or four weeks.
The deputy mayor also reported that the rate of people from black, Asian, mixed race and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds taking a coronavirus vaccine has been lower than other population groups.
Investigations are also ongoing after reports of people using vulnerable residents vaccine appointment to jump the queue to get a jab.
Mayor Andy Burnham said the region's test and trace system has been successful but there are concerns that not enough contacts of people who have had Covid-19 have been reached (69.2 per cent) to ask them to isolate.
In similar calls before, the mayor asked for the government to provide more financial support to people who have been asked to stay at home.
Professor Kate Ardern, who has a major role in the region's test and trace system, said 75 per cent of cases are linked to the Kent variant that was identified in September and is more transmissible.
The South African variant is thought to be contagious too.
Deputy mayor Baroness Bev Hughes, who leads on crime, said Greater Manchester Police handed out 140 fixed penalty notices over the weekend for gatherings and house parties.
However, there was a reduction in the number of large gatherings, which may be due to an increase in fines that came into force on Friday.
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