The Covid Heroes who have gone above and beyond to help their communities through the pandemic

direct to your inboxIn a year of uncertainty, heartbreak, and a longing for normal life, 19-year-old Cameron Cartledge's experience of the coronavirus crisis will resonate with so many young people."Last year was really difficult because the pandemic has just turned everything upside down," he said."One day it was training at my local martial arts club, seeing friends and family, and the next it was having to stay at home not being able to do any of that."The last twelve months have been

direct to your inboxThe latest data on the coronavirus infection rates for each local authority in England show that 98 pc of the country has seen a rise. Of the 315 local areas in England, 309 have seen an increase in Covid-19 case rates and only six (2 pc) have seen a fall.

direct to your inboxThese maps show how Covid-19 cases are rapidly increasing across Greater Manchester.The striking images show a big increase in less than a week.And the latest data shows just one neighbourhood in the whole conurbation with an infection rate below 100 per 100,000 people.The first map shows rates for the week ending on Boxing Day, December 26.While the second map shows rates in the week ending January 2.They show that during that period, the area with an infection rate below

straight to your inboxAston Villa have shut their first team training centre after a number of players returned positive Covid-19 tests.Villa's last fixture was the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United and they are set to face Manchester City two weeks. Their first positive tests were returned on Monday, three days after facing United.

direct to your inboxIt was reported earlier this week that high street pharmacies were being ‘snubbed’ in the government’s rollout of the Covid vaccine. While supermarket car parks have been highlighted as key vaccine centres, local pharmacies are said to have been left at the side of the rollout - despite being ‘willing and ready’ to assist.

straight to your inboxThe Football Association has postponed Manchester City's scheduled Women's Super League fixture on Saturday after four positive Covid-19 cases in the squad. The City Football Academy has been hit with a number of positive Covid cases in the last two weeks, with nine members of the men's first team group testing positive and having to isolate, plus four members of staff and one player from the Elite Development Squad.

direct to your inboxThe latest infection rates for every local authority in England have been published with one area toppling 1,500.Large numbers of areas of London and the South East are recording rates of more than 1,000 per 100,000 people while all Greater Manchester boroughs continue to fall below the national average of 606.9 per 100,000. However, coronavirus infection rate in Wigan has almost doubled in a week with rises continuing to be recorded in every borough.

Former Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson lives in Manchester with her daughter Mia and her partner Strictly Come Dancing professional Gorka Marquez. The couple met on the BBC One show back in 2017 when they took to the dance floor week after week as a contestant pairing.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester Police responded to 1,500 reports of ‘stupid and selfish’ people breaking Covid-19 laws over the New Year period.More than 1,000 callouts involved officers breaking up house parties held inside residential homes, properties rented for the night and short-term lets.‘Hundreds’ of fines have been handed out to those attending illegal gatherings in the past week, including people who went to a rave on an industrial estate.Rising infection rates are also

direct to your inboxThe Army is being drafted into Greater Manchester from today to help carry out 'targeted' asymptomatic testing for coronavirus, the government has announced.The Ministry of Defence said 800 military personnel including soldiers would deploy to support community testing plans drawn up by Greater Manchester Combined Authority.The news comes as the latest Covid-19 vaccine - from Oxford AstraZeneca - was administered for the first time on Monday.The MOD said personnel from nine

Covid-19 variant is putting an extra strain on already stretched hospital resources.In London, one hospital declared they were unable to provide 'high standard critical care' because it is understaffed and swamped by Covid-19 patients. A campaigning doctor revealed on  Twitter  on New Year's Eve that the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel had sent an email to notify staff of the situation.

straight to your inboxEverton boss Carlo Ancelotti has sent his best wishes to anyone at Manchester City affected by coronavirus - four days after the postponement of their Premier League game. The Premier League made a late decision on Monday that Pep Guardiola and his squad should not play at Goodison following an outbreak of Covid-19 at the club that had worsened since their Boxing Day game and was threatening to cause more damage.

direct to your inboxThese are some of the brilliant people who have been recognised in the 2021 New Year Honours list.The list features many people who have been going above and beyond in their professional lives or voluntarily to support their communities through the pandemic, as well as many Greater Manchester medics.They include a GP Dr Amir Hannan, who took on the challenge of joining Harold Shipman's old practice 20 years ago, and set about restoring patients' trust. Since then, he has

direct to your inboxDavid Oliver is an experienced NHS Consultant Physician and medical writer from Manchester.He has played a variety of national medical leadership and policy roles and has a weekly column in the British Medical Journal.He is currently managing two Covid wards at a hospital in the south of England.Here he explains the detrimental impact of conspiracy theories and untruths around Covid-19 on NHS staff.What do care home have to do to get a break in England right now?At last they