The coronavirus infection rate is higher than the national average in three boroughs of Greater Manchester. And, according to the latest data, the rate has risen in one area of the region.
08.05.2022 - 11:49 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
After two turbulent years in the pandemic, pubs in Greater Manchester are squaring up to a new challenge in the ongoing battle for survival. Lockdown closures, strict social distancing rules and the arrival of Omicron before last Christmas all rocked the region's pubs.
Now, just as life was beginning to appear more like normal for many, the cost of living crisis is beginning to bite. Communities are being squeezed by soaring gas and electricity prices, while the cost of goods and fuel are also on the up.
For pubs which have made it to the other side of Covid restrictions, it comes as a fresh double blow for business - their own costs are rising while their customers have less money to spend. Pub landlords in the region have told the Manchester Evening News their costs have shot up by up to £500 a month.
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At the same time as spiralling inflation, VAT rose from 12.5% to 20% last month. And while the recent increase to the National Minimum Wage is much-needed and welcome for workers - albeit barely scratching the surface to meet soaring bills - it adds to the other rising costs pubs are facing.
Some pubs are now seeing a paradox, where more customers are now coming through the door than before the pandemic began, but rising costs mean they are making less money. Others say they are even less fortunate than that, with trade still not hitting the heights of 2019.
Tony Nichol is landlord at The Dog Inn, in Chadderton. He says running the pub became particularly expensive when it first reopened from lockdown, with the need for social distancing and extra staff adding to costs.
Now, Tony says the pub is doing
The coronavirus infection rate is higher than the national average in three boroughs of Greater Manchester. And, according to the latest data, the rate has risen in one area of the region.
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Coronavirus infection rates are on the rise in four boroughs of Greater Manchester, according to the latest figures. Rates have continued to drop in the remaining six areas.
The coronavirus infection rates have continued to fall in nine boroughs of Greater Manchester, but have seen a rise of seven per cent in one local authority area, according to the latest data data.
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The coronavirus infection rate has gone up in one area of Greater Manchester, as the weekly rates continue to plummet across the other nine areas. However, the infection rate across the region remains below the national average.
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Coronavirus infection rates are continuing to plummet in all ten Greater Manchester boroughs - however one still has a rate higher than the national average, according to the latest available data.
One Greater Manchester borough continues to have a Coronavirus infection rate above the national average. Despite this, cases have still fallen across the region.