Salford has 70 new coronavirus cases, up from the previous day's 43, bringing the cumulative total to 15,087. The seven day average of cases has increased to 581, up from 542, while the seven day rate per 100,000 population now stands at 224.5, up from 209.4.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, the seven day average of cases in Bury is 439 (up from 431), with a seven day rate per 100,000 population of 229.9 (up from 225.7); Bolton 462 (up from 456), with a rate of 160.7 (up from 158.6); Manchester 1,122 (down from 1,136), with a rate of 202.9 (down from 205.5); and Oldham 457 (up from 446), with a rate of 192.7 (up from 188.1).
Rochdale has a seven day average of cases of 505 (up from 472), with a seven day rate of 227.1 (up from 212.2); Stockport 589 (up from 546), with a rate of 200.7 (up from 186.1); Tameside 382 (up from 359), with a rate of 168.7 (up from 158.5); Trafford 585 (up from 525), with a rate of 246.5 (up from 221.2); and Wigan 608 (up from 572), with a rate of 185 (up from 174).
There have been no new virus-related deaths at Salford Royal Hospital.
Meanwhile, the teachers' union, the NEU, or National Education Union, has written to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Education, repeating its call from 21st December for "on-line learning in schools and colleges for the first fortnight of January 2021, for the Government to use that time to support local directors of Public Health in setting up mass testing programmes for schools and for the beginning of vaccination of education staff".
The NEU is also asking for the medical advice the Government has received on school openings to be made public..."In the latest coronavirus test data it is clear that the infection rate amongst school age children continued to increase sharply during that last week of term" the union states "And it is clear that by the end of term school age children had the highest infection rates of any of the age demographics analysed by the ONS. Primary, Secondary and Higher Education age groups all have more than 2,000 cases per hundred thousand; much more than any other demographics."
The union cites a research paper from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College which argues that Tier 4 will not be enough to control the new virus variant without school closures...
"You are asking teachers and support staff to teach in often poorly ventilated classrooms, with no PPE in those classrooms and with the ability to socially distance very limited" the letter states "As it is your Government that is making these plans it is clearly your responsibility to ensure safe working for staff and for you to understand, mitigate and communicate the risks.
"We have previously asked the Secretary of State to share with us the numbers of education staff that tested positive in each week since September, the number who have been hospitalised and the number who have died" it adds "So far that information has not been shared with us.
"You certainly cannot expect education staff to show good will towards your plans for education if you do not at least share all the information you have about this dreadful disease with them" the NEU concludes.
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