These shocking graphics illustrate the huge rise in deaths seen throughout Bolton during the coronavirus pandemic.
It is no surprise that Covid-19 has taken a significant number of lives in the borough and across the world over the last few months.
However, comparing the impact of the virus this April with the number of reported deaths in the same month in previous years shows the true scale of the crisis.
Over the course of the last five years an average of 222 people passed away in Bolton each April. This year that figure has risen sharply to 472.
This chart looks at recorded deaths from 2015-2020, with the average death toll per month for the years 2015–19 in black.
For 2020 it plots all deaths in green with just those related to Covid-19 in red.
From this you can see the sharp contrast between the number of people who have died in Bolton this April compared to previous years.
However, it also shows that coronavirus deaths could potentially have been under reported.
While the total figure for the borough has risen from 222 to 472, there have only been 168 deaths registered as directly related to this virus.
This leaves a gap of 82 people whose deaths were not confirmed as being caused by the coronavirus despite them being well above the average for this time of year.
Across the rest of Greater Manchester the figures are much the same but on a large scale.
This chart shows the same data as its Bolton equivalent but it has been extended to include all the deaths in the region.
In Greater Manchester there were 4,360 deaths recorded in April compared to a yearly average of 2,061 for the month. There have been 1,496 Covid-19 deaths reported which would be a difference of 803 deaths above the average.
These figures come from death certificates registered with local authorities up to at least April 24.
For more information on other areas of Greater Manchester, click here.
