Salford has 73 new coronavirus cases, down from the previous day's 105, bringing the cumulative total to 15,265. The seven day average of cases has decreased to 510, from 580, while the seven day rate per 100,000 population now stands at 197, down from 224.1.
With cases not rising like wildfire in Greater Manchester yet, the region was expected to stay in Tier 3, but the Government has placed it in Tier 4*...
"This is devastating for Salford after months of restrictions and confusing Gov guidance, but with infection rates soaring we must do everything possible to keep each other safe" tweeted Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long Bailey "However, Gov must recognise the hardship many already face and do more to protect jobs and incomes.
"The Chancellor must use the billions of unused support being handed back to the Treasury from Supermarkets to support those excluded, facing hardship and businesses in sectors badly hit" she added.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, the seven day average of cases in Bury is 444, (down from 471), with a seven day rate per 100,000 population of 232.5 (down from 246.6); Bolton 446 (down from 466), with a rate of 155.1 (down from 162.1); Manchester 1,019 (down from 1,119), with a rate of 184.3 (down from 202.4); and Oldham 424 (down from 465), with a rate of 178.8 (down from 196.1).
Rochdale has a seven day average of cases of 460 (down from 501), with a seven day rate of 206.8 (down from 225.3); Stockport 616 (up from 615), with a rate of 209.9 (up from 209.6); Tameside 380 (down from 400), with a rate of 167.8 (down from 176.6); Trafford 550 (down from 577), with a rate of 231.7 (down from 243.1); and Wigan 596 (down from 600), with a rate of 181.3 (down from 182.6).
There have been no new virus-related deaths at Salford Royal Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Joint Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), Dr Mary Bousted, has said she is "astonished" at yesterday's announcement on school returns by the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson.
"With warnings from eminent scientists of an 'imminent catastrophe' unless the whole of the UK is locked down, and with more cases in hospitals than ever before and our NHS facing an enormous crisis the Secretary of State is sending the majority of primary pupils and staff back on Monday to working environments which aren't COVID secure" she explained.
"The Government has not, despite being repeatedly asked, published the scientific guidance on the risks involved in school and college reopening" she added "This information is desperately needed - particularly as the new variants of the virus are 50% more transmissible.
"The Government in Scotland will not reopen schools till 18 January at the earliest. The Government in Westminster should have done that at least" she said "A longer period of online working for all primary, secondary and college students could suppress virus levels and buy time both for the roll out of the vaccine and to put in place measures that can keep schools safer.
"Uniquely school and college staff are being required to work in overcrowded buildings, with no effective social distancing, no PPE and inadequate ventilation" she added "We would like Gavin Williamson to explain, if schools are not centres of transmission why school age pupils are now the most infected age groups? Why is it that Primary age children are the second highest infected of all age groups, or that levels of infection amongst Secondary pupils have multiplied by 75 times since the start of September?
"Serious questions also have to be asked about the Government's plans for lateral flow testing in secondary schools, in particular about the effectiveness of these tests in identifying COVID infection in young people who are highly likely to be asymptomatic, with the tests being supervised by non medically trained volunteers. We do not think it likely that these tests alone can make our schools COVID secure nor protect the communities they serve" she said.
"We believe the Governments steps will fail, that cases will continue to rise and that the question of school opening will have to be re-visited but in a worse situation than now" she concluded.
The NEU is demanding: A review of all risk assessments in the light of the much higher transmission of the new variant; Social distancing of one metre between pupils in all schools and colleges to replace the current practice of cohort distancing which allows whole year groups to mix without any social distancing; Masks to be worn by pupils and staff in secondary school classrooms and colleges; School staff to be made a top priority for vaccination - along with health care staff and starting with the most vulnerable; and that, until vaccinated, Clinically Extremely Vulnerable staff and other high risk groups work from home, supporting children who are at home.
* For full details of Tier 4 restrictions see previous Salford Star article – click here
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