Consultation on Greater Manchester bus franchising approved despite leader's concerns

direct to your inboxFour of the areas which will be allowed to stay under Tier 2 Covid rules have a higher infection rate than every part of Greater Manchester.Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced today that Greater Manchester would remain in Tier 3, dashing hopes that rules would be relaxed for the hospitality industry over Christmas.He also revealed that some council areas in the south east of England would be moved up from Tier 2 to Tier 3 after a rise in coronavirus cases.However, some

direct to your inboxThe mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has slammed the government’s decision to keep the region under the toughest coronavirus restrictions.Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester this afternoon, he said: “The average for all of Greater Manchester is lower than Liverpool and London when they went into tier 2.“I don’t think they’ve got the balance right at all here, so I understand the frustration, but let’s not take it out on the NHS.“We’ve got to follow those rules and it

Manchester Evening News readers have shared their reactions. The region will remain under the toughest restrictions until the next review after the government announced it would not be downgraded - despite a dramatic drop in coronavirus case rates.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester will remain in Tier 3 following the government's latest announcement. Matt Hancock announced on Thursday that the "vast majority" of places in Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions will not be changed following the first review since the restrictions were re-implemented earlier this month.

direct to your inboxThree boroughs in Greater Manchester have lower coronavirus infection rates than the areas taken out of Tier 3 by Matt Hancock today.The Health Secretary revealed that Bristol and North Somerset are the only places in the country which will be moved down into Tier 2 and have the toughest restrictions lifted.The neighbouring council areas in the south west have both seen a drop in infection rates similar to that of Greater Manchester since early November.But some parts of our

taken control even ahead of Matt Hancock's statement and decided not to reopen at such short notice, even if the Government allowed them to.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester will remain in the highest level of coronavirus restrictions, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced today.During a statement in the House of Commons, Mr Hancock released the details of the latest government review of the tier system in England.There had been hopes that Greater Manchester - or some boroughs - would be moved down to Tier 2, due to a fall in infection rates.But the Health Secretary said many areas in Tier 3 were not 'quite there,' as he

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester has stayed in Tier 3 following a government review.There was speculation that the region could be downgraded to Tier 2 following a dramatic drop in coronavirus case rates.Greater Manchester boroughs now have infection rates that are lower than the average for England, the latest Public Health England data has shown.Mayor Andy Burnham also argued on Wednesday that there was a "clear case" for the region being eased into Tier 2.However, Matt Hancock announced

direct to your inbox Nine Greater Manchester boroughs now have coronavirus infection rates that are lower than the average for England - but numbers are beginning to creep up in some areas.

direct to your inbox The latest coronavirus infection rates for every local authority in England have been released.

direct to your inboxCoronavirus has brought heartache to thousands of families across Greater Manchester.More than 3,800 people have died in our region's hospitals alone. And tragically, this number is continuing to rise.Behind the Covid-19 death statistics that we publish each day are human beings who all had stories to tell.

direct to your inboxTwenty-six more people have died from coronavirus in Greater Manchester's hospitals.The region's hospital death toll has risen to 3,900, the latest NHS figures show.Nine more Covid-related deaths were recorded by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in its 24 hour data.The trust runs the Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI), Wythenshawe Hospital, the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Saint Mary's hospital.Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed five new deaths.

direct to your inboxThe latest coronavirus infection rates demonstrate a widening gap between northern and southern boroughs in Greater Manchester.Public Health data from the week ending December 6 shows that boroughs which lie south of the city now have an infection rate lower than the national average.It comes as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the disparity in rates could see the conurbation split up into different tiers when the government come to review the system next week.He

direct to your inboxEighteen more people have died from coronavirus in Greater Manchester's hospitals.The region's hospital death toll has now risen to 3,787, the latest NHS figures show.Thirteen new deaths were recorded at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the organisation in charge of the Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital, Saint Mary's and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed four new deaths.

direct to your inboxTalks over the uncertain future of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) will continue, despite Stockport councillors voting against the proposals.Opposition groups argued that the long-delayed masterplan for jobs and housing favoured the needs of developers over residents, and would lead to unnecessary green belt development.Labour had hoped that by removing or scaling down schemes planned up to 2037, that it could appease Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, and the

direct to your inbox The latest coronavirus rates for each local authority in England over the last week have been revealed. Thursday's update of the rolling seven-day rate of new cases for the seven days to November 29 reveal which areas of the country are seeing reductions in infections - and the ones that are increasing.

Coronavirus infection rates are falling faster in Greater Manchester than at any time during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest data from Public Health England.The rate for the Greater Manchester region is now 246.9, the lowest it has been since the end of September.There were exactly 7000 confirmed cases in Greater Manchester for the week ending November 23, which is 3,796 fewer cases than in the previous week.That represents a week-on-week fall of 35.2 per cent, the highest

The latest infection rates for Greater Manchester are:Oldham 366.9, down 31pcRochdale 342.2, down 32pcWigan 301.2, down 27pcBury 300.5, down 33pcBolton 294.6, down 32pcSalford 246.5, down 42pcManchester 245.3, down 32pcTameside 241.1, down 36pcStockport 204.5, down 36pcTrafford 169.4, down 45pcThe national average in England is 202.4 per 100,000 population.Trafford is the only Greater Manchester borough to sit below the national average with 169.4 per 100,000.There were 661 positive tests across

A council leader has warned that stricter Covid-19 Tier restrictions could continue for a ‘number of months’ until a widespread vaccination programme is rolled-out across the country.Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced today that Greater Manchester will be placed back into Tier 3 of the government’s strengthened tier system when national lockdown ends next week.The Tier 3 classification – the ‘very high alert’ level – means that people cannot meet others they do not live or bubble with

Manchester council has thrown its weight behind the beleaguered regional masterplan for jobs and housing - despite uncertainty over its future.With no end in sight to the political standoff in Stockport, plans to approve the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) have been postponed in Salford, Trafford, Oldham, Rochdale and Bury.Councillors in Manchester were told this week that there was a ‘very high risk’ that the GMSF would not get the support it needed.Under the proposals the city