The rate of Covid in Oldham is continuing to rise faster than the national average.

Figures released by Public Health England show there were 60 positive tests for the virus in the town today.

The fresh cases mean there have been 432 in the last week, which is a rise of 33.7 per cent from the seven days before this.

Across the country cases are rising at a slightly slower rate of 31.8 per cent.

The number of people in Oldham per 100,000 with Covid is more than double the UK wide figure.

In the town it stands at 182.2 compared to an average of 72.8 across the country.

Over the UK there were nine deaths today which came within 28 days of a positive test for the virus.

During the last week there have been 66 fatalities, which is exactly the same as the figure for the seven days before this so the nationwide death rate is stagnant despite rising cases.

The latest data also shows the number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid is rising at 41.1 per cent weekly.

In the north west region the R rate, the rate at which one person passes the virus onto another, stands at between 1.3 and 1.5.

When this figure is above one the virus spreads exponentially, whereas below one it dies out eventually.

The figure in this region means that the virus is spreading.

The fresh cases in Oldham mean that 24,355 people have tested positive for the virus in the town since the pandemic began.

The rate works out at 10,271.6 per 100,000 people, which is around a third higher than the UK wide figure of 6,871.3.

A total of 133,787 people in Oldham have now had a first dose of the vaccine, which is 69 per cent of the adult population.

Of these 97,315 have had a second dose to become fully vaccinated, which is 50.2 per cent of those eligible.

Across the UK 79.8 per cent of the adult population have had their first dose and 57.8 per cent have had their second dose.