Covid hospitalisations have risen sharply in recent weeks in Greater Manchester, as health bosses warn that the true figure of the number of positive cases could be far higher than that which is currently being reported.
The number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid-19 in Greater Manchester almost doubled in the space of a week. There were 251 Covid-related hospital admissions in the week ending June 12 - the latest figures available - compared to 133 the week before, totalling an increase of 89pc.
The uptick follows the emergence of Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, which were designated as variants of concern in the UK on May 20. The two mutations, first detected in Africa in January and February, have been cited by the ONS (Office for National Statistics) as a likely cause for rising infection rates throughout the UK.
