The number of Covid cases in Oldham has risen as restrictions have been lifted, but remains far lower than it has been for most of this year.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that there were 11 positive tests todayin the area, which puts the weekly total at 136 – a rise of 16.2 per cent.

Across the whole of the country cases are falling at a small rate of 2.8 per cent.

The daily case total has fallen dramatically from when the UK entered lockdown at the start of the year.

On January 4 there were 177 positive tests in Oldham.

The rate of Covid per 100,000 people in the area stands at 65.8, but for most of last month it was above 100.

Across the country this figure stands at 28.1.

There were no deaths recorded in Oldham today which came within 28 days of a positive test for the virus.

There have been three fatalities in the last seven days, a fall of one from the week before this.

Across the UK there were ten deaths today and there have been 183 over the last week, a fall of 27.1 per cent.

The most up to date figures show that the weekly admissions to the Pennine Acute Hospitals with Covid stands at 12, which is a fall of 52 per cent from the week before this.

Oldham has been one of the worst affected areas in the country with Covid.

Last August it narrowly avoided a local lockdown when it was thought to be the most highly infected area in the country.

Its case total peaked on November 2 when 409 cases were found.

Since the pandemic began 23,024 people have tested positive for the virus in the area, and 605 deaths have taken place within 28 days of a positive test for the virus.