Salford has 220 new confirmed cases of coronavirus bringing the cumulative total to 11,419. The seven day average of cases has decreased from to 1,389 to 1,377, as has the seven day rate per 100,000 population which fell from 536.6 to 532.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, cases in Manchester during the latest seven day data period were 2,395 (down from 2,402), with a rate of 433.2 (down from 434.5), followed by Bolton with 1,465 (down from 1,490), with a rate of 509.5 (down from 518.2) and Oldham 1,758 (down from 1,773), with a rate of 741.4 (down from 747.8).
Wigan has 1,898 (down from 1,899), with a rate of 577.5 (down from 577.8), Tameside 1,031 (down from 1,062), with a rate of 455.2 (down from 468.9), Rochdale 1,351 (up from 1,332), with a rate of 607.4 (up from 598.9), Stockport 1,065 (down from 1,094), with a rate of 363 (down from 372.8), Bury 1,097 (up from 1,095), with a rate of 574.4 (up from 573.3) and Trafford 961 (up from 950), with a rate of 404.9 (up from 400.2).
There have been two new virus-related deaths announced by Salford Royal Hospital.
Meanwhile, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that secondary-age pupils now have the highest rate of infection of any age group and, whilst it has fallen a little as a result of the half-term holiday, it is likely to carry on increasing.
Official medical body, SAGE also found that children aged 12-16 played a "significantly higher role" in introducing infection into households in the period after schools reopened their doors to all students. Public Health England revealed that the positivity rate amongst school-age children is extremely high - for secondary age children it is 18% and for primary age children it is 12%. And Salford City Council has stated that 7% of the city's school population is currently isolating.
All of this data concerns the National Education Union, or NEU, which is calling for the Government to introduce more testing in schools...
"We are pleased that SAGE has recognised the important role that schools and school-age children play in transmission of the virus" says Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union "We have been concerned for some time that an erroneous belief that children do not play a significant role in the transmission of coronavirus was badly distorting policy. This is in spite of a clear and sharp trend in infection rates among secondary school pupils in particular since the start of term.
"We call on the Government to play a much more active role to suppress the transmission of COVID within schools" she adds "Schools have gone to great lengths to make themselves as safe as possible but there is only so much they can do on their own. We put forward a ten-point plan in June with suggestions including hiring additional space and teachers to reduce class sizes. More recently we have put forward ideas to enable social distancing in schools through the use of rotas for older secondary school pupils. All these suggestions were ignored.
"Schools have been given inadequate advice - more often than not delivered at the last minute - and with no additional funding" she argues "The situation is untenable and widespread disruption will continue unless the Government takes steps to get coronavirus under control in schools."
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