BOLTON'S coronavirus infection rate continues to fall, according to latest figures ­— but health bosses are preparing for a possible increase after Christmas as restrictions are relaxed for three days.

The borough continues to fall and is now is placed 55th in the country based on the statistics.

The borough recorded 600 new cases ­— an infection rate of 208.7 per 100,000 ­— in the seven days to November, compared to 848 cases in the week before, where the infection rate 294.9Data for the most recent four days (November 30-December 3) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

A majority of areas in England ­—266 out of 315 ­— have seen a fall in case rates.

Bolton is currently drawing up plans for mass testing and the vaccination programme.

And it is understood that health bosses are preparing themselves in case there is an increase in coronavirus cases after Christmas, when households, under certain restrictions, will be able to meet.

Between 23 and 27 December, the three households in a "Christmas bubble" can mix indoors and stay overnight.

The bubbles will be fixed, so people will not be able to mix with two households on Christmas Day and two different ones on Boxing Day. Households in a person's Christmas bubble can't bubble with anyone else.

There will be no limit to the number of people who can join a bubble although it is advised it should be "as small as possible".

Swale in Kent continues to have the highest rate, with 867 new cases recorded in the seven days to November 29 – the equivalent of 577.7 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 529.7 in the seven days to November 22.

Medway – also in Kent – has the second highest rate, up from 439.8 to 559.7, with 1,559 new cases.