For the latest news from in and around Wigan sign up to the MyWigan newsletter here It's too soon to know if the fast-spreading Covid variant in Bolton has crossed into the town's neighbours - but one health leader believes it is inevitable.
While Bolton's Covid rate continues to surge, other parts of Greater Manchester are also seeing their numbers creep up. Last week, neighbouring town Bury had the lowest case numbers in the region, but town hall leaders insisted the borough could not be complacent.
Now, Bury has Greater Manchester's fastest-growing increase in Covid cases outside of Bolton, with a 79 percent rise week-on-week.