What time is the Greater Manchester Tier 2 or Tier 3 announcement today?

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester’s Covid-19 infection rate has crept above 300 for the first time since November 19.It is currently 300.9 per 100,000 people in the seven days up to December 31.That represents a 45 per cent week-on-week increase and is the first time it has risen above 300 since November 19.Despite the rising number of cases here, our region’s rates are still well below the English rate - which is currently 537.5.The fastest growth is happening in Wigan, where cases are up

direct to your inboxParents and children have been left in limbo ahead of the imminent reopening of primary schools and the risk posed by the new strain of COVID-19.It's understood that primaries in Greater Manchester will open as planned on Monday - despite action being taken to keep kids at home in other Tier 4 areas.It comes as the National Education Union (NEU), the UK's largest teaching union, told its members that it is unsafe for them to go back to work on Monday.The NEU is one of several

direct to your inboxThe coronavirus infection rate is now rising in all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester. The government is now under increasing pressure to delay the reopening of all schools on Monday as a result of the concerning data trend.

direct to your inboxFour more people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Greater Manchester's hospitals.It brings the total number of deaths in the region's hospitals to 4,245.Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust recorded further two deaths in the last 24 hours.Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust each reported one death.The total number of coronavirus deaths at hospital trusts in Greater Manchester, as of January 2, are:B

direct to your inboxHeavy snow is expected to fall in Greater Manchester this afternoon as the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning.Snow and ice could lead to dangerous conditions as up to 5cm of snow could fall in some places, the Met Office warns.A yellow weather warning covering the north east and north west of England, Wales, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber is in place until 6pm this evening.Greater Manchester is forecast to get heavy snow at around 4pm today, with

direct to your inboxDozens of chickens have been dumped across Greater Manchester after 'panic buyers' bought them to lay eggs. The RSPCA has warned that the birds are being dumped in huge numbers due to lockdown and fears of the return of bird flu.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester's coronavirus infection rate is continuing to climb as the region begins 2021 in Tier 4. As we entered our second day under the country's tightest coronavirus restrictions, concern is growing nationally about the highly transmissible new strain of the virus.

direct to your inboxPrimary schools in London will remain closed following a government U-turn.It comes after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced 50 education authorities in the south of England would be closed to primary school pupils for the first two weeks of term.The list failed to encompass several school areas in London, where Covid-19 rates remain alarmingly high as the new strain continues to spread across the country.Latest scientific advice warns that the new strain variant

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.

direct to your inboxThe streets were empty as Greater Manchester said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in a new year - but many were determined to keep alive at least one tradition.Our video from Werneth Low shows how many parts of Greater Manchester were ablaze with colour as people set off fireworks at midnight to celebrate the arrival of 2021.Around 200 socially distanced people gathered on the popular spot to watch the moment our region said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in the New Year.Car horns

direct to your inboxIt has been a year like no other.However Great Mancunians have still made headlines across the world, for all sorts of reasons.Here we look at those who have put the region on the map in 2020, a year we will never forget.2020 has undoubtedly belonged to Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford.However it is his incredible work off the pitch which has made the headlines, even more than his impressive goal-scoring feats on it.The Withington-born and Wythenshawe raised

direct to your inbox"It's absolutely gut-wrenching."Hair salon owner Jane Nixon describes how she felt as Matt Hancock announced that Greater Manchester would be moving into Tier 4.And it's a feeling thousands of business owners across the region will be familiar with.A change in restrictions, businesses finally being allowed to open then being forced to shut again just a few weeks later.

direct to your inboxDoctors and paramedics say they are bracing themselves for a new tide of Covid patients to hit Greater Manchester's hospitals within weeks. Speaking as plans for the region's move to Tier 4 were announced and the return to school for secondary pupils was delayed, Dr Carole Gavin, a consultant in Greater Manchester, said concerns were growing as hospitals in the south battle to find beds as infection rates - largely found to be caused by the new mutant strain - rise.

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police chief has urged people to stay at home in Tier 4 tomorrow night instead of celebrating New Year's Eve as they normally would. Under Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, people are required by law to remain at home unless they need to leave their home for essential reasons.

Sign up for the latest from M.E.N.

Sign up for the latest from M.E.N.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester will move into Tier 4 under a review of the government's Covid-19 restrictions.The Health Secretary made the announcement on the region's move into the tightest set of measures today (Wednesday).Matt Hancock addressed the House of Commons this afternoon to announce changes to local restrictions as infection rates continue to rise across England.Tier 4 is currently the toughest tier and includes the closure of non-essential shops closed and stricter rules on

Greater Manchester certainly has a lot to look forward to. Despite a challenging 12 months, the region already has a long list of new developments coming up in the next year and through to 2023.

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

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