Coronavirus infection rates appear to be levelling off in Greater Manchester, according to the latest figures.
Bolton still has the highest rate in the country but has slipped below 200 cases per 100,000 people and is now on 189.9.
Similarly, Tameside has fallen back below 100 cases per 100,000 people to 94.5.
Wigan has broken into the 'red alert' zone for the first time with a rate above 50 cases per 100,000.
However, it should be stressed that there is no way of knowing if the overall trend is the result of recent problems with testing, or because fewer people are getting the virus.
The M.E.N reported yesterday how the total number of positive cases in Greater Manchester increased by more than 50 per cent in one day.
There were 576 positive cases confirmed in the region on Wednesday, compared with 374 on Tuesday.
But that is likely to have been caused by the backlog of tests that have been taken that took longer to produce a result.
A more accurate guide to the bigger picture is the infection rate.
Our latest analysis of the data shows that Oldham is still seeing an increase in cases, but the infection rate has fallen slightly to 110.1.
Salford, Bury and Tameside all have rates in the 90s, while Rochdale is on 86.8 and Manchester 84.1.
Only Stockport, 44.3 and Trafford 43.4 remain outside the government 'red zone'.
There continues to be widespread reports of problems getting a coronavirus test, with people being offered sites two-hour journeys from home or nothing at all.
One town hall boss said yesterday A&E departments across Greater Manchester are seeing a 'significant' increase in the number of people turning up in search of a test.
Steve Rumbelow, chief executive at Rochdale council, says there has been a 'noticeable change' in people’s behaviour against a backdrop of soaring infection rates and a testing system in 'meltdown'.
He said: “We have seen, across Greater Manchester, a significant change in that we have not seen people turning up at A&E for some time, and they are turning up now, and it’s largely because they are not able to get tested.
“It’s not massive numbers, I don’t want to over-egg it, but it’s obviously a significant change in terms of behaviour and indicates that people are starting to get concerned.”
Health secretary Matt Hancock has admitted it could be 'weeks' before the government resolves the testing problems.
