Covid patients will fill up Greater Manchester's entire intensive care capacity by November 12, Downing Street says

Both Wigan and Stockport’s NHS trusts had already taken that decision in the past fortnight as both had come under increasing pressure. On Wednesday the region’s health lead Sir Richard Leese indicated that that move was likely to happen more broadly across the system in November - as hospitals dealt with a ‘very, very worrying’ level of pressures - and last night the M.E.N.

‘very, very worrying’ situation and predicted that widespread operation cancellations were likely within around a fortnight. He said concerns among experts tasked with overseeing hospital planning have “increased significantly” in the last week.“It appears to have been a particularly bad weekend.

more than 580. Now we're reporting on those where cases have been confirmed this week and over the school holidays.With councils not issuing the information to us, we are largely reliant on parents keeping us informed, so the true figure is expected to be much higher.Today's list includes Stockport Academy where Year 8 are now isolating until November 19 after a positive case.

"We have also worked extremely hard to make our buildings COVID-19 secure and have been following national police guidance regarding PPE throughout. However, as we have now entered a second lockdown due to rising infection rates within the country, we feel it's appropriate to encourage staff to wear an extra level of protection where suitable whilst moving around our police buildings."This is in line with national guidance which has been given to retail and business premises.

more than 580 schools affected by the virus before the school holidays, we're now reporting on those where positive tests have been confirmed since they broke up.

Andy Burnham said he had never known the ambulance service see a major incident during November of the kind it saw on Monday, warning this was ‘the first big sign of what is happening here in our hospitals and the challenge that colleagues are facing’.

Pennine Acute, which runs Fairfield General Hospital, Bury, The Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary, recorded 21 more deaths.

reached 539. Today a further 16 have been confirmed across the region. Do you know a school where children are isolating? Let us know in the comments here or email the details to [email protected]. Today's list includes:The full list of schools where cases and self-isolations have been confirmed between now and the start of term. Some may have now finished isolating and returned to their classes:ManchesterSalfordGet the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with

reached 539.  Today a further 16 have been confirmed across the region - and that's only the ones the Manchester Evening News has been alerted to. Schools and councils aren't publishing this information, with the exception of Wigan Council, so we are largely reliant on parents informing us about closures. Do you know a school where children are isolating? Let us know in the comments here or email the details to [email protected]. The full list of schools where cases and self-isolations have

hereThe prison, which is run by Sodexo Prison Services, has capacity for 1,460 inmates.Matt Spencer, director at the prison, said: "A small number of staff and prisoners at HMP Forest Bank hace tested positive for Covid-19."We are currently working with Public Health England and the local authority to reduce transmission of the infection, including ensuring appropriate self-isolation and testing takes place."A number of measures have been put in place to prevent any spread of the virus,

reached 525. Now a further 14 have been confirmed - and that's only the ones the Manchester Evening News has been alerted to.

Bury Church of England High School, which has sent three year groups home, Dean Trust Ardwick, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, and Wardle Academy and Newhouse Academy, both in Rochdale, where all Year 9s have been sent home.

Today programme on BBC Radio 4 this morning (Monday) after a leaked document revealed that some of the region's hospitals are already full. Hospitals in Salford, Stockport and Bolton were at maximum capacity by Friday due to the resurgence of coronavirus infections, it claimed.

The Guardian reports.

topped 500. Now a further 14 have been confirmed - and that's only the ones the Manchester Evening News has been alerted to.

here Internal projections for Greater Manchester’s hospital system has forecast that Covid admissions could hit April’s peak by the end of October if current trends continue. Projections by Public Health England and the conurbation’s health and social care partnership, leaked to the Manchester Evening News, suggest that if current trends continue, hospitals here could be seeing around 238 new Covid admissions a day by the end of October.

Wigan, Springwood Primary in Swinton, Salford, and St Andrew's CE Primary in Radcliffe, Bury.

full closure of one school following an outbreak of the virus.Etchells Primary School, in Cheadle, Stockport, shut on Tuesday with the headteacher saying the quick spread of the virus was partly due to children displaying different symptoms to those mostly associated with Covid.Rather than having a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste, the youngsters complained of headaches, fatigue, aches – especially in the neck and shoulders - as well

reached 459. Today a further 15 have been confirmed across the region. Do you know a school where children are isolating? Let us know in the comments here or email the details to [email protected]. Today's list includes:The full list of schools where cases and self-isolations have been confirmed between now and the start of term. Some may have now finished isolating and returned to their classes:ManchesterSalfordGet the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox

posted on Wednesday, said: "Yesterday we were made aware of a likely shortage of reagent supplied by Roche Diagnostics Ltd caused by issues in their supply chain.