The map that shows the one area of Greater Manchester that is now almost Covid-19 free

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester residents can still enjoy Christmas with friends and family - but plans will need to be drastically scaled back.In London and the South East ‘Christmas bubbles’ have been cancelled.Things look a little brighter up here - but Greater Manchester residents have been issued with a stark warning that celebrations must only take place on Christmas Day.Residents across the country are also being warned to “stay local” and avoid travelling outside their areas and

direct to your inboxThis is the man who will take over the top job at Greater Manchester Police - for now - after the resignation today of chief constable Ian Hopkins.Ian Pilling, currently GMP's deputy chief constable, will 'step up' as the force's interim chief, the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said.Mr Burnham added he would set in motion the search for Mr Hopkins' permanent replacement in the new year, saying: "Now is the time for new leadership and a new era in our police

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

Manchester Evening News can reveal.

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 inbox The latest coronavirus infection rates for each local authority in England have been revealed.

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 inboxBrilliant footage shows how Manchester was transformed into 1980s New York for The Crown. Parts of the latest installment of the award-winning  Netflix  series were filmed at locations in the city centre back in February.

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 confirmed that the latest version of the regional spatial framework is dead after Stockport rejected the long-delayed plans.The remaining nine boroughs will now pursue a new masterplan to try and salvage their vision for providing jobs and housing across the city-region by 2037.Several councils postponed votes on the GMSF after Stockport initially deferred their decision before opposition groups rose up to vote against it on December

coronavirus map.

direct to your inboxRates of coronavirus have been falling for a number of weeks in Greater Manchester. In fact, a number of neighbourhoods in the region are almost Covid free, according to the Government's coronavirus map.

hereAnd earlier this week it emerged that the rate in Greater Manchester was lower than the rate in London on the day the capital was placed under Tier 2 rules while we were put under tougher Tier 3 restrictions.The gap between our region and the capital has continued to widen, according to the latest data released by Public Health England this afternoon.London now has a infection rate per 100,000 people of 182.6, compared with the rate of 159.2 in Greater Manchester.It was hoped that the

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.

direct to your inboxCoronavirus infection rates have fallen in the region for the 26th day in a row.Cases are falling faster in Greater Manchester than they are in England as a whole, as well as in London - where rates are only two per cent down on the previous week.Our overall rate is now 173.2 -  down 69 per cent from its peak on November 2, when it was 569.1.  Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very simply by

Rochdale, 283.3, (630), 409.6, (911)Burnley, 280.0, (249), 409.4, (364)Wolverhampton, 275.7, (726), 356.9, (940)Rossendale, 275.6, (197), 345.5, (247)Newcastle-under-Lyme, 274.3, (355), 430.3, (557)Oldham, 272.4, (646), 419.6, (995)Havering, 268.9, (698), 385.3, (1000)East Staffordshire, 268.9, (322), 415.0, (497)Kirklees, 265.8, (1169), 448.2, (1971)Walsall, 263.1, (751), 352.7, (1007)Hyndburn, 261.6, (212), 470.1, (381)Birmingham, 260.6, (2976), 360.5, (4116)Bradford, 256.2, (1383), 440.0,

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

heading for tier 3 restrictions when lockdown ends next week, pupils are continuing to be sent home from primaries and secondaries across the region. We reported at the weekend how many feel schools are 'descending into chaos' and concerns are growing over Year 11s being expected to sit exams next year despite missing out on large chunks of classroom learning time.