CONCERNS OVER 'SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT' RISE IN COVID-19 HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS ACROSS GREATER MANCHESTER AS MAYOR BURNHAM SAYS THE REGION NEEDS TO GET ITS FOCUS BACK

Greater Manchester's Metro Mayor, Andy Burnham said that the region needs to 'Get It's Focus Back' after small but notable rises were observed in covid-19 patient admissions across the regions hospitals.

However, Mr Burnham said that it was too early to determine if the rising numbers were a trend, but cautioning that it was not being ruled out.

Sadly another death has been recorded due to the virus at Salford Royal this evening, with a further six recorded across other hospitals in the region.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DypnjUN-8Ck

The Mayor speaking on his press conference live stream said that if we do not start to observe the rules now, we are going to see the number of people entering hospital rise and we are going to run the risk of seeing increases in infections within care homes.

Declaring that:  "This is not a lecture to the people for the sake of it".

He encouraged people to look at the figures and think about the lives involved, asking people to continue to follow the social distancing rules and maintain hand washing and face mask wearing.

Salford's 7-day-rate of positive tests per 100,000 people is currently standing at 63.4 on the week ending 05/09 in contrast to the previous weeks rate of 38.2, a significant and worrying rise.

Numbers that we need to desperately bring back down to lower levels, else risking economy damaging restrictions that have already been imposed upon neighbouring Bolton.

Mr Burnham believes that part of the reason for the rises is due to the lifting of the lockdown in our region being too early as higher levels of the virus were still in circulation, which he believes has contributed to the current situation.

The Mayor also said that he has had positive discussion with the health secretary regarding a localised test and trace system, a proposal is to be submitted later today and it is hoped that the scheme will be backed.

He told the viewers that the current national system was failing and not working properly for Greater Manchester.