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 downward trend in our region might lead to Greater Manchester being taken out of Tier 3 rules when the local restrictions are reviewed by the government next week.However, the levelling out of infection rates will be a setback to those hopes - and it now.