The latest infection rates for Greater Manchester with four boroughs now below national average

direct to your inboxCoronavirus cases in Greater Manchester continue to rise, with a 12pc increase recorded in a week.The infection rate for the region as a whole now stands at 178.3 cases per 100,000 people, as of December 20.Despite trends heading in the wrong direction, transmission rates in the region remain far lower than other parts of the country, according to data from Public Health England.The average rate for England is 351.7 cases per 100,000 people, representing a 59pc increase on

direct to your inboxStorm Bella is set to bring heavy rain and strong winds to Greater Manchester on Boxing Day.The Met Office have issued a series of weather warnings ahead of the storm's arrival on Saturday afternoon (26 December).An amber severe weather warning has been issued for parts of south Wales and across southern England, with gusts expected to reach up to 60 to 70mph in some places.Storm Bella is likely to bring disruption to travel and utilities, the forecaster's alert said.In

direct to your inboxStorm Bella has officially been named as strong winds and heavy rain are forecast for Boxing Day.The Met Office has said Christmas Day will be relativity calm and cold, but conditions across the UK will turn increasingly unsettled through Saturday and into Sunday. An amber weather warning has been issued for parts of south Wales and across southern England, with gusts expected to reach up to 60-70mph in exposed coastal locations.

direct to your inboxTwo men from Greater Manchester who won £20,000 on the hit BBC show Race Across the World have donated their prize money to charity.Emon Choudhury, 36, from Stockport, beat four other teams to win the race alongside his nephew Jamiul Choudhury, 25, from Oldham.The pair beat the odds to complete an epic 54-day journey from Mexico City to the south of Argentina for the second series of the BBC2 show.On their travels, the men were visibly moved by the number of homeless children

direct to your inboxCoronavirus infection rates are rising in eight of Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs as cases soar nationally.The overall rate of infection rate in our region has risen by 8.3% week-on-week, according to data from Public Health England.Transmission rates in Greater Manchester have shown a steady rise in recent days following weeks of declining cases.The average rate of infection in the region as of December 18 is 168.14 cases per 100,000 people.  Cases are rising in Rochdale,

hereThe infection rate for Greater Manchester as a whole now stands at 162.8 cases per 100,000 people, which is the highest level for the region since December 2.Over the last two weeks, the rate has remained relatively static at just over 150 cases per 100,000 but has started to climb up again in the last three days.The Greater Manchester rate is way below the average rate for the whole of England, which is now at 284.2 cases per 100,000 people and has risen 62 per cent in a week.In London the

direct to your inboxCoronavirus infection rates in Greater Manchester have continued to creep up.The rate of infection in our region is up 3.4 per cent week-on-week as of December 16, according to the latest figures.In London, where tough Tier 4 measures have been introduced, infection rates are up 114 per cent week-on-week.‘Christmas bubbles' in London have been cancelled and people are being urged to stay at home. It marks a huge u-turn for the government, who until yesterday planned to relax

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 inboxAll ten boroughs of Greater Manchester are now registering a lower coronavirus infection rate than the national average - although rates are increasing in some boroughs.The latest NHS data released today (Thursday) revealed 218.8 positive tests for every 100,000 people during the week to December 13 across England, an increase of 39 per cent compared to the previous week.Much of that spike is associated with a significant increase in cases in London, which registered 358.7

direct to your inboxThree boroughs in Greater Manchester have lower coronavirus infection rates than the areas taken out of Tier 3 by Matt Hancock today.The Health Secretary revealed that Bristol and North Somerset are the only places in the country which will be moved down into Tier 2 and have the toughest restrictions lifted.The neighbouring council areas in the south west have both seen a drop in infection rates similar to that of Greater Manchester since early November.But some parts of our

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 inboxCouncils across Greater Manchester have outlined their plans for bin collections over Christmas and the New Year.With Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on bank holidays this year, many town halls are having to change their schedules.Bins are being collected in the days leading up to - and after both days - though the exact dates differ from borough to borough.All councils are still urging residents to keep recycling food, cardboard and paper and other recyclable items

direct to your inboxCoronavirus infection rates in two more boroughs of Greater Manchester have now fallen below the England average - but numbers are starting to creep up in some areas.The latest figures from Public Health England show there were 176.2 positive tests in Wigan for every 100,000 people in the local population during the week to December 10, a fall of six per cent compared to the previous week.The borough now has a lower infection rate than the one recorded for England, which has

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 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 inboxThe latest coronavirus infection rates demonstrate a widening gap between northern and southern boroughs in Greater Manchester.Public Health data from the week ending December 6 shows that boroughs which lie south of the city now have an infection rate lower than the national average.It comes as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the disparity in rates could see the conurbation split up into different tiers when the government come to review the system next week.He

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 latest infection rates for the week ending November 26 for Greater Manchester are:Rochdale - 283.3, down 31 per centOldham - 272.4, down 35 per centBolton - 248.0, down 27 per centBury - 236.1, down 32 per centWigan - 231.9, down 30 per centManchester - 200.1, down 30 per centTameside - 169.1, down 40 per centSalford - 167.3, down 46 per centStockport - 157.1, down 33 per centTrafford - 122.6, down 42 per centAlthough infection rates have been falling across the region for a number of days,

What do you think? Have your say in our c omments section. Click here to join in the conversation... Mary Robinson, Conservative MP for Cheadle, described a 'borough by borough basis' as the right way forward, adding: "I'll continue to argue for this approach and that provisions are in place for our hospital to manage both Covid and winter pressures."Mr Wragg agrees, arguing that, although rates in Stockport are still high, they have dropped by a third in the last week - bolstering the case for