Manchester Covid-19 cases surge amid student spikes

Manchester is approaching 300 new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people as the city grapples with escalating infection rates amongst students and young people.

The virus has spread rapidly through university campuses and student accommodation where case numbers among 17 to 21-year olds are more than treble Manchester’s overall rate of infection.

Hundreds of students and staff have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past ten days, pushing the city’s infection rates to become the highest in Greater Manchester and one of the worst in the country.

On Thursday health secretary Matt Hancock has ruled out any further restrictions in the city-region despite Manchester reporting 259 cases per 100,000 – a figure which is expected to rise in the coming days.

But similar infection rates reported elsewhere in the north of England prompted the government to introduce even stricter lockdown measures earlier this week.

In Knowsley, which falls within the Liverpool city-region, the infection rate was 279.7 cases per 100,000 while the city of Liverpool reported 268 per 100,000.

From Saturday morning people in the city-region – which also includes St Helens, Halton, Sefton and Wirral – and in nearby Warrington will be banned from mixing with different households in any indoor setting.

This mixing was already banned for private homes and gardens but will now be extended to places like pubs, bars and restaurants.

The measures will also be rolled out in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and other parts of the north east which had already been under tighter measures since September 18.

Mr Hancock said: “Earlier this week, we brought in further measures in the north-east.

“However, cases continue to rise fast in parts of Teesside and the north-west of England.

“In Liverpool, the number of cases are 268 per 100,000 population, so together we need to act.”

“The more people follow the rules and reduce their social contact, the quicker we can get Liverpool and the north-east back on their feet.

“There are no changes to measures in West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Leicester, Lancashire or the rest of Greater Manchester.”

During the speech Mr Hancock announced that restrictions in Bolton would be aligned with the rest of Greater Manchester and the national 10pm curfew for hospitality venues.

Pubs and restaurants had been forced to close in the borough unless they could operate as takeaway services.

The government’s approach in Bolton had left the Conservative council’s leader David Greenhalgh ‘incredibly frustrated and angry’.

But the u-turn was welcomed by Coun Greenhalgh, who said:” I am delighted that the government has finally listened and realised the disparity and unfairness at the way our hospitality sector in Bolton has been treated.”