For the latest Rochdale news sign up to the MyRochdale newsletter here Local leaders fear Rochdale’s rising infection rate is beginning to mirror the surge that saw an explosion of cases in Bolton.
Official figures show that the borough recorded 218 positive tests over the week to May 30 - 93 more than the previous seven days.
This was a rise of 74 pc, and at 98 cases per 100,000 people, its rate is now the fifth highest in the region. A recent update from Rochdale council chief executive Steve Rumbelow said the rise was ‘very concerning’ and ‘seems to mirror Bolton’s early trajectory’.
Mr Rumbelow added: “Around 80pc of these cases are thought to have the ‘s’ gene associated with the Indian variant (which is also referred to as the delta