A sharp rise in coronavirus cases in Bury could be linked to schools reopening, it has been revealed.
There was a rise of 37 per cent in cases in the borough in the week ending March 20.
Bury recorded 186 positive Covid tests over the seven-day period - 50 more than the previous week.
The infection rate is now 97.4 cases per 100,000 population.
Coun Eammonn O’Brien, Bury Council leader, explained the reasoning behind the spike could be down to the reopening of schools.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he said: “The general explanation for the rates is that as we reopen schools and with the higher risk factors in the borough, like more people travelling more for school and work, that’s made a higher risk of catching it.
“I think the general increase at the moment can reasonably be explained by the return of the schools.
“More people leaving home and travelling and more mixing.”
A spokesman for Bury Council said rates may have increased due to a large rise in testing in school using lateral flow devices.
In a statement, the authority said: “Our rates fluctuate from day to day, and especially in small areas where an apparently high rate one week is matched by an equally high fall the next.
“There is no single reason for this, and we have not had any clear outbreaks that would account for it.
“There has, however, been a large increase in testing in school children using Lateral Flow Devices, and numbers have gone up in other age groups too.”
