The number of new coronavirus cases has continued to rise in Wigan.

There were 809 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in the seven days up to June 12 which is 278 more than the previous week and an increase of 52.4 pc.

The infection rate in the borough was 246.1 cases per 100,000 people during this period, putting Wigan in the top half of Greater Manchester boroughs.

But the Covid rate among the borough’s over-60s is the second highest in Greater Manchester, according to a Wigan council report published this week.

The council report reveals that the number of new cases has risen in every local authority ward except for Orrell and Leigh South, where it has fallen.

Lynne Calvert, enhanced service manager for public health at Wigan council, attributed the increase in Covid cases across the borough to the Delta variant.

She said: “With cases on the rise, it is really important that everyone continues to wash their hands, wear a face covering, watch their distance and ensure homes are well ventilated.

“If you are socialising or visiting with friends and family over the Father’s Day weekend, remember that you can also reduce the risk of transmission by meeting outdoors.”

The neighbourhood with the highest infection rate in the seven days to June 12 was Ince-in-Makerfield, according to the latest government data available.

There were 38 new cases in the area during this period, more than triple the week before, raising the infection rate to 438.5 cases per 100,000 people.

The lowest infection rate during the seven-day period was in New Springs.

The area which borders Ince-in-Makerfield, had six new Covid cases confirmed during those seven days, eight fewer than the previous week.

New Springs, which had an infection rate of 98.3 cases per 100,000 people, was the only area where fewer than 0.1 pc of the population tested positive.

There were 19 Covid positive patients in Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh hospitals on June 15 – an increase from the same time the week before.

By the beginning of June, there had already been 1,010 deaths related to Covid registered for Wigan residents, with two more added in the most recent week.

There were 42 deaths from all causes registered in the latest week of data available, covering up to June 4, a decrease of 19 from the previous week.

According to the Wigan council report, 81 per cent of all Covid-related deaths happened in hospital, 13 per cent occurred in care homes and four per cent were at home.