A PLEA has been issued by council and health chiefs for residents to take coronavirus seriously - as Bury's rising rate places it on the cusp of 'red alert' territory.

Clinical commissioners have been told that they have seen a "quite rapid increase" over the weekend of cases across the borough.

Borough leaders have previously warned that Bury was in the 'last chance saloon' when it came to avoiding a local lockdown.

One of the last official figures, up to Sunday, put Bury at 42.4 cases per 100,000 people.

But Lesley Jones, the borough's public health director, said this had increased still further to around 45 cases per 100,000.

She told a Bury CCG strategic board meeting: "Over the weekend we seen quite a rapid increase in cases within Bury and across Greater Manchester."

And Mrs Jones repeated concerns, expressed elsewhere over the weekend, that the problem could become "endemic" in Bury and neighbouring boroughs.

An increase in hospital activity had also been observed and she was concerned, from feedback the health authority had received that people were underestimating the seriousness of Covid-19.

"It is going to be challenging going forward and the more we can do around testing, tracing and isolating the better," she added.

Cllr Andrea Simpson, the borough council's health cabinet member, said: "This is a virus which is going to affect people in the longer term. It should not be taken lightly.

"I know people who have got coronavirus in their 30s so it is not just older people who are contracting the condition."

Board members agreed measures to step up Bury's 'rapid response' testing facilities, with a new site for Mosses and Chesham about to open.

Further locations in Whitefield and Redvales and Sedgeley will come online in successive weeks as part of proposals to have seven such sites across the borough, as well as a central hub on the Waterfold Business Park.

Question marks still exist over the costs, which could run up to £92,000, will be met by the council and clinical commissioners, or will be covered by government Covid-19 support funds.

Other Greater Manchester boroughs, such as Bolton, Oldham, Salford, Tameside and Manchester, are already 'red' rated, with Trafford and Rochdale faring similarly to Bury.