Environment Secretary defends “draconian” tiering system and decision to place Greater Manchester in Tier 3

Don't miss a thing that's happening in and around Bury by signing up to the free MyBury newsletterThe coronavirus infection rate has gone up in Greater Manchester for the first time in weeks.It currently sits at 161.4 per 100,000 people during the week ending December 15 - that's a 6.3 per cent increase on the previous week.It is the first week-on-week increase in Greater Manchester of more than 1 percent since October 31.The infection rate has remained fairly level across the region for the

direct to your inboxTameside now has the most places with hardly any cases of Covid-19 in Greater Manchester.The borough’s council boss says the explanation is simple – everyone has ‘played their part’.The latest hyper-local neighbourhood data shows that there are five areas of the borough which saw two or fewer cases in the last week.Ashton North, Audenshaw, Hurst Cross, Denton East and Dukinfield West all saw either two, one or no new infections in the seven days to December 11 according to

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester’s political leaders have criticised the government’s decision to place the area under the strictest coronavirus rules – but Rochdale’s leader has welcomed the news.Trafford’s director for public health, Eleanor Roaf, said she doesn’t believe Greater Manchester is being ‘punished’.She said: “I think really, unfortunately, in Greater Manchester we happen to have a lot of things that put our population at greater risk – more people in lower paid work, more

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

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 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 inboxGreater Manchester and Lancashire are staying in Tier 3 restrictions after a review of Covid rules across England.Matt Hancock announced in the House of Commons on Thursday morning that Bristol and North Somerset were coming out of Tier 3 into Tier 2 - but that every other part of England currently in Tier 3 was staying there.  He also announced a list of areas that would be moved up into Tier 3 including Surrey, Berkshire and Peterborough.

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 inboxGreater Manchester leaders have urged the government to base their review of tiering arrangements on what is happening in the north of England instead of the south.Mayor Andy Burnham remains confident that there is a case for all ten boroughs to come out of Tier 3 at once with Covid-19 infection rates falling by 20 per cent since December 2.However he admitted ahead of the government’s announcement tomorrow that it was ‘more borderline’ in boroughs where rates remain above

direct to your inbox The latest coronavirus infection rates for all individual areas of England has been revealed.

direct to your inboxThe coronavirus infection rate has fallen in Greater Manchester - but it is soaring in London.The latest figures from Public Health England reveal there were 154.9 positive tests for every 100,000 people in Greater Manchester for the week ending December 11, a fall of four per cent compared to the previous week.During the same period, the infection rate in London soared by 61 per cent to 296.8 - double that in Greater Manchester.Government scientists are trying to establish

direct to your inboxNot for the first time, Greater Manchester is waiting to find out what kind of restrictions will be imposed upon it in the coming days.And again, not for the first time, the answer is unclear.

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 inboxGreater Manchester now has a lower coronavirus infection rate than the average figure for England, the latest data shows.It's the first time the region-wide figure has dipped below the national average since May 1.The infection rate is expressed per 100, 000 people.The latest Public Health England (PHE) figures show the rate for the week ending December 8 was 151.3 per 100,000 people in Greater Manchester.It is below the average rate for England which currently stands at

direct to your inboxThe latest Covid-19 infection rates for every area in England have been published.The figures, for the seven days to December 7, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).The rolling seven-date rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people for each local authority in the country.

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 inboxGreater Manchester leaders have stepped up calls for the region to move out Tier 3 restrictions as local hospital admissions continue to fall.But they admit it may be the case different boroughs are split into different tiers - as 'the next best thing to support as many jobs and businesses'.They are also steeling themselves for further pressures on the shrinking economy with 100,000 people expected to lose their jobs by mid-2021.Residents are being urged to shop local over

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.

The government has explained the decision behind the new tiering system - saying failure to bring in controls would lead to 'intolerable' loss of life.An impact assessment on the new regulations was released ahead of a crucial vote in the House of Commons tomorrow.MPs will vote on whether to approve the new system, which is due to come into force when the lockdown ends on Wednesday. Greater Manchester is set to be placed into Tier 3 - meaning the tightest restrictions will be imposed.The impact