‘Why is this world beating system going so spectacularly wrong?’: Matt Hancock quizzed on Greater Manchester Covid testing problems

in Bolton have been closed since early September, with only takeaway services available.  Speaking in the Commons today, health secretary Matt Hancock said today: "We are aligning the measures in Bolton with the rest of Greater Manchester. "I'd like to pay tribute to David Greenhalgh, the leader of Bolton Council, for his constructive support and the Bolton MPs for all they have done in support of Bolton."There are no changes to measures in West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Leicester, Lancashire,

further 43 people who tested positive for the virus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals in England to 30,005.

Enness Global has come up with a list of islands you can get for the same price as a high-end Greater Manchester home - or less.Manchester United coach Nicky Butt's incredible six-bedroom mansion in Hale is still on the market as the region's priciest at £5.5m.It has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms - plus two main reception rooms, a gym, cinema and bar.Coming in at £5.25m, is a bespoke six-bedroom home in Bowdon with four impressive reception rooms and landscaped gardens.Futher afield, you can

coronavirus are not subject to a 'legal requirement.' In an interview with Times Radio on Thursday, the Health Secretary appeared to confuse matters when he said: “If the app tells you to self-isolate, then you should self-isolate."But if an NHS Test and Trace contact tracer tells you, then you must by law.”Asked whether that was complicated to understand, he said: “Not really, it is really straightforward.”Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free

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

Salford, where 6.4pc of tests came back positive.In comparison, just 3.4pc of tests were positive in neighbouring Wigan.The data, which was released by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, also shows that the number of positive tests in Bolton is rising far quicker than the number of tests being taken.Last week, the number of tests carried out in Bolton was up 14pc compared with four weeks earlier, in the week ending August 15.But over the same period, the number of positive tests has gone

that the number of hospital admissions is 'creeping up'.Giving an update to councillors, Steve Taylor, managing director of Bury & Rochdale Care Organisation, said: “On Monday in intensive care there was one patient at Bury, four in Oldham and two in North Manchester.“In general beds there are four Covid patients in Bury, 12 in Oldham, 11 in North Manchester and nine in our infectious disease department."Meanwhile in Bolton, the infection rate is now above 200 cases per 100,000 people.

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

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

As infection rates continue to rise across much of the region, a testing nightmare isn't what Greater Manchester needs.

coronavirus hotspots across Greater Manchester are struggling to get tested amid fears that the national system has ‘lapsed into chaos’. Residents in Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Oldham, Bolton and Tameside are either being told there are limited numbers of tests available - or none at all.

coronavirus infection rates soar in the last few weeks. Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust both recorded one more death.The total number of coronavirus deaths at hospital trusts in Greater Manchester, as of Friday, September 11, currently stands at: Meanwhile in Greater Manchester, the latest figures show there are sharp increases in coronavirus infection rates in every single borough.

Andy Burnham has slammed health secretary Matt Hancock for the way the government has announced a string of new coronavirus restrictions affecting Greater Manchester.The region’s mayor says the approach has kept local leaders in the dark and led to ‘anxiety and confusion’ among residents.He said he fears ministers are in danger of ‘losing the public’ and is calling for a return to daily briefings led by expert scientists and medics.Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Mr

Have your say on the local lockdown measures in our survey:"Of course the national measures which were announced yesterday will come into force in Greater Manchester, it's very important that people follow them."We took further action in Bolton.

One Manchester student said he cycled 13 miles and visited three different testing centres before eventually managing to get a coronavirus test.Many trying to access a test online have been met with the error message: “This service is currently very busy. More tests should be available later.

coronavirus cases.The latest data on coronavirus infection rates shows an increase in every Greater Manchester borough except Trafford.Bolton's rate continues to soar and has now reached 121.7 cases per 100,000 people.On Friday (September 4) health secretary Matt Hancock said that the easing has been made possible due to the hard work of 'residents, communities and local authorities', to bring infection rates down.He announced that casinos, bowling alleys and other leisure facilities can re-open

Co-op Academy in Swinton has been worst affected after positive cases in Year 7 and Year 10 meant both year groups were sent home on Monday morning.While the school initially said siblings should also stay off, parents have now been told that brothers and sisters can attend.Only if the children who are self-isolating begin to suffer symptoms should other members of their household face the same restrictions.But even if parents don't need to isolate, it's a blow for those with little ones who