NHS contact-tracing app's self-isolation requests 'not legal requirement', says Matt Hancock

still has one of the highest infection rates in England after several outbreaks among the student population. One student told the Guardian a "Covid Positive" party in one halls of residence in Fallowfield was broken up by security on Saturday.

A payment scheme which will support self-isolating residents who are unable to work from home has been launched in Manchester where cases remain at a ‘precarious level’.Those who are eligible for the scheme will receive a one-off support payment of £500 to cover living costs while staying at home to limit the spread of Covid-19.As of September 28 anyone who has tested positive for the virus, or has been contacted by the national test and trace service, is now required by law to self-isolate.But

vowed to do as much as they can to help the 1,500 MMU students isolating in halls.But Priya is not the only student or parent in Manchester to have struggled to find help.First year student Molly Chambers described a similar situation at Oak House in Fallowfield.She says isolating students have feared leaving their flats to use the communal laundry facilities outside and have been washing clothes in the bath."I've been bringing food to people, picking up post, but it's very difficult when you're

reported last weekend that a number of students were already self isolating at the Birley campus, in Hulme, days after a 100-strong party was reported in the courtyard.Since then, case numbers have soared to 127 across that site and Cambridge Halls, with a number of other students also recording symptoms.

a fifth of the region's schools (247) have had confirmed cases - among either pupils, staff or both. At one secondary - Philips High in Whitefield, Bury - there have been 18 positive tests and the whole of Year 11 has been sent home.

straight to your inboxMicah Richards has hit back at social media users who claim he is only getting jobs due to Black Lives Matter. The former Manchester City defender has become a prominent football pundit since hanging up his boots in 2019.

Manchester Evening News' political editor, Jennifer Williams, said the payment will be "welcomed" in Greater Manchester.

Manchester Evening News' political editor, Jennifer Williams, also appeared on The Andrew Marr Show to talk about the new support payment, which will be "welcomed" in Greater Manchester.

Matt Hancock has warned that the country is facing a “big moment” as coronavirus hospital admissions continue to rise.The Health Secretary said it is vital that people follow the rule of six, or the more stringent measures imposed here in Greater Manchester.“It is deadly serious,” he told Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday (September 18).“The results of not doing so will be that this goes more out of control and we have to take more stringent measures which have a bigger economic impact and

new helpline has been set up by the government to make it easier for settings to get advice on what steps to take following a positive case.

coronavirus.There are reports that laboratories have been overwhelmed by a surge in swabs.Far from being the envy of the world, Labour’s Wes Streeting told Health Secretary Matt Hancock in the Commons this week the system was 'a bloody mess'.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very simply by following the instructions hereNHS Test and Trace figures show that 33.3 per cent of people who were tested for coronavirus

Manchester Evening News that if there is a positive case at their child's school, they 'have a right to know'. Among the cases confirmed today is the closure of an entire primary school in Oldham, the first confirmed shutdown in Greater Manchester.

Police and firefighters are to be used as contact tracers in bid to dodge Greater Manchester lockdown.The proposals are contained in a letter sent to Matt Hancock by the mayor today Greater Manchester plans to use the police and fire service to track down thousands of people being missed by the national test and trace service as it seeks to stave off any kind of ‘blanket lockdown’. It also wants to provide its own temporary ‘self isolation’ fund for people who cannot afford to stay at home due

here"Of course, as I have said repeatedly, there are operational challenges but thousands of people every day are being tested in Manchester in order to get a grip of the outbreak there."Debbie Abrahams, Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, raised issues around local contact tracing in Greater Manchester and accused the government of 'still not getting the basics right'."I don't underestimate the challenges that the health secretary has faced over the last few months," she told MPs."But

struggling to access tests, it's causing even further disruption and delay. At some high schools hundreds of pupils are being affected as whole year bubbles are sent home following a positive test.Oasis Academy Oldham has confirmed that students in Year 10 and 11 are self-isolating for the next fortnight and teachers will be supporting their learning at home.