A major incident has been declared in Greater Manchester due to rising coronavirus infection rates across ‘multiple localities’. It comes just days after north west England was placed in a lockdown late on Thursday evening, preventing people from meeting up with others outside their household. The restrictions were brought in due to Greater Manchester making up more than a third of the nation’s worst affected local authority areas for Covid-19.

The Strategic Coordination Group met this weekend to discuss regulations in the region. Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey, chairman of the Local Resilience Forum in Greater Manchester, explained that they had declared a ‘major incident’ in order to ‘respond as effectively as possible’ to the virus threat.

He said: ‘Recognising that there are multiple localities across Greater Manchester seeing rises in infection rates, the group reviewed learning from other recent areas, including Leicester, and its own learning from across the partnership and have taken the decision to declare this a major incident in order to respond as effectively as possible.

‘This will enable us to maximise the capability of agencies across Greater Manchester, including additional resources if required, to instigate a prompt and positive change in direction.’

He added that the decision to declare a major incident was about protecting the population by aiming to reduce infection rates and eventually allow the region to return ‘to as near a state of normality as current times allow’.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Combined Authority said the declaration of a major incident was ‘no more than a boost to our capabilities’ and did not change the measures announced on Thursday.

He continued: ‘It is absolutely appropriate for us to maximise our resources in the drive to reverse the spike in infection which we have witnessed in the last seven to 10 days. The more we stick to the new guidelines and drive the R rate down, the quicker they will be removed.’

Oldham, in Greater Manchester, is currently the second worst affected borough in England and this week saw its seven-day rate jump from 41.6 to 62.8 per 100,000 people.

The boroughs of Trafford, Tameside, Rochdale and Stockport, along with the cities of Manchester and Salford, also feature among the country’s 20 worst-hit areas.

Writing in the Sunday Mirror earlier today, the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said people in the area ‘on the whole’ had been brilliant at adhering to the new rules and rejected ‘efforts to blame some for breaking lockdown rules’.

Burnham stated that one reason why the virus was spreading more in poorer areas was because ‘people in low-paid, insecure jobs know they won’t be paid if they abide with test and trace self-isolation rules’.

He added: ‘We shouldn’t spend taxpayers money on subsidising meals out but not support the low-paid to take time off work to protect their health.’