Bolton's coroanvirus infection rate has risen again, giving the borough the second highest rate in the country.

The number of new positive Covid-19 cases has been rising recently in Bolton, with surge testing implemented after large amounts of the Indian variant of the virus were detected.

Residents living in Rumworth, Deane and Great Lever have been visited by public health officials over the last few days to be told about new measures in place to stop the transmission of the variant.

This includes residents in the affected areas to to getting tested, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not, and being urged to take up the vaccination.

The Indian mutation has been categorised as a 'variant of concern'.

In the meantime, Bolton's coronavirus infection rate has continued to rise, according to the latest figures.

In the seven days to May 6, Bolton recorded 384 new positive cases of Covid-19, a significant rise from 202 cases in the seven days to April 29.

This gave the town an infection rate of 133.5 new positive cases per 100,000 residents in the borough.

This is by far the highest rate in Greater Manchester, and second highest in the whole of England, only behind Erewash in Derbyshire who's rate is now 185.5 per 100,000.

This rise in rates comes less than a week before lockdown measures are set to be eased further across the country on May 17, including the reopening on indoor hospitality and more.

There has been an increase in Covid-19 cases in other boroughs of Greater Manchester in the past seven days.

Rochdale, Manchester, Stockport, and Wigan have all seen their infection rates rise, however, they still remain far lower than Bolton.

In Lancashire, Hyndburn has seen its infection rate fall significantly from 146.8 to 49.4 cases per 100,000 residents between April 29 and May 6.

Blackburn with Darwen however has seen one of the biggest rises of cases with its infection rate rising from 50.1 to 84.8 cases per 100,000 residents, according to the latest figures.

Greater Manchester infection rates

From left to right: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to May 6; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to May 6; rate of new cases in the seven days to April 29; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to April 29.

Bolton, 133.5, (384), 70.2, (202)

Rochdale, 41.8, (93), 34.2, (76)

Manchester, 38.0, (210), 33.6, (186)

Trafford, 33.3, (79), 44.7, (106)

Salford, 31.7, (82), 41.3, (107)

Oldham, 29.1, (69), 35.4, (84)

Stockport, 27.6, (81), 20.1, (59)

Wigan, 24.0, (79), 22.2, (73)

Tameside, 23.8, (54), 25.6, (58)

Bury, 20.4, (39), 24.1, (46)