CASES of coronavirus in Tameside have more than doubled in a week, new figures have revealed.
Statistics released by Public Health England (PHE) from July 26 up to August 2 show that there have been 34 positive cases of the virus across the borough.
Public Health England figures have shown infection rates have doubled in the boroughThis is a more than 50 per cent increase on the previous week to July 26, where there were just 16 residents who contracted coronavirus.
The latest data shows that eight areas have had three or more cases. However areas which have two or fewer cases are not included in the data map – meaning Tameside’s total will likely be higher.
The area with the highest number of Covid-19 cases for the last seven-day period is Ashton Central, at eight incidences.
This is followed by Dukinfield West with five cases. Ashton North, Audenshaw and Droylsden Central all have four cases in each area.
Meanwhile the areas of Smallshaw, Hurst Cross and Denton North have each had three cases confirmed.
Compared to the previous week, the location of new cases appears to be spreading from the east of the borough across to the centre and more western districts.
Between July 20 and July 26, cases were only being seen in Droylsden Central, Droylsden East, Guide Bridge and Denton North.
A major incident has been declared in Greater Manchester after infection rates continued to climb into the end of July, including particularly big spikes in Manchester and Tameside plus a sustained, steep rise in Oldham.
Infection rates for the week to July 29 show cases per 100,000 people rising in every part of the conurbation, apart from Rochdale.
In the week ending July 18, figures released by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority showed that Tameside had a seven-day infection rate of 4.9 per 100,000 people. By July 27, this had risen to 16.3.
Stricter measures were brought back in by the government on Thursday, July 30 to restrict different households mixing to try and bring case numbers down.
Tameside Council’s leader Brenda Warrington has urged residents to follow the new rules stopping people socialising at each other’s homes ‘vigilantly’ to combat rising coronavirus cases in the borough.
Cllr Warrington said: “Over recent days we have seen a rise in new cases of Covid-19 across Greater Manchester and independently in Tameside.
“We must now react quickly by adopting these new measures to maintain control and prevent a continued rise in the number of cases.
“We need to protect ourselves and our loved ones and the more we all stick to the new rules, the sooner the restrictions can be lifted.
“I am therefore asking that all our residents follow the new rules vigilantly.”
Cllr Warrington said they would be monitoring the data and reviewing the situation weekly, and residents would be kept updated of any further changes.
“I am so proud of the way our Tameside communities have responded to this pandemic so far and we need to retain our commitment to preventing the spread of the virus and adhere to the new guidelines,” she added.
The new measures, first announced on Twitter by health secretary Matt Hancock, ban separate households from meeting each other at home.
The rules also ban members of two different households from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues.
However those businesses are permitted to remain open for those visiting individually or from the same household.