Join us at 10.00 am for the weekly Greater Manchester Press Conference which will be giving an update on the Covid-19 situation across the region
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham will be hosting the event and will be joined by Deputy Mayor Sir Richard Leese, Chair of the Health and Social Care Partnership and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Bev Hughes.
The Mayor says that there has been an overall improving picture across the region.There were 14 deaths across Greater Manchester compared to 28 last week
New cases reported this week stood at 234, it is almost half that of a month ago.
On care homes, the Mayor says we are in a stable position, 15 per cent are recording cases
On test and trace, Sir Richard Leese reports on the situation two weeks into the national scheme.All ten boroughs have a mechanism in place.”It is working in Greater Manchester.” he adds
A very high percentage of people who have been asked to self isolate in GM have complied
Beverley Hughes raises the issue of a huge backlog of cases that are due to go through Magistrates and Crown Courts.
Demand across the Police service has stabilised following a huge increase over the last weekend
The Mayor says that there has been high levels of compliance especially on Metrolink with 90 per cent using face coverings during the morning rush hour.
The transport system has seen a 14 per cent rise in traffic on buses and a 20 per cent increase on Metrolink
We are now onto questions
“One of our reporters was out with homeless outreach groups in the city centre last night. They’re already seeing an increase in rough sleeping ahead of the coronavirus overnight provision finishing at the end of the month. Could we end up going back to square one on rough sleeping? And what are you doing to ensure Phase Three of A Bed Every Night will hit the ground running? “
Andy points out that he warned the Government around a month ago of the pending crisis.The warning was ignored.The people being supported was double that forecast and people underestimated how many would be made homeless by the lockdown.
GM has put forward proposals to restart a bed for a night to create 450 new places.”This is the moment that the Government needs to back up its words with actions”
Sir Richard Leese pays tribute to the homeless teams and their private sector partners.
He says that we have been talking to the Government for weeks without much success and reminds us that the Government scheme ends in a week and a half
We’ve spoken to people in our region who say that bus drivers haven’t been wearing face masks. Should they be obliged to wear them as passengers are and why are they not currently?
Andy points out that the Government directive does not include drivers.In many situations there are protected from the public but there are also issues around their own safety could be
We have asked With our public transport coming close to capacity under current social distancing rules, and given that it is now mandatory to wear face coverings, is it not the time to review the 2m rule on trams and buses and start to get people out of their cars and back on public transport and how long can we expect central Government to continue to fund the loss making services
Andy replies that before we start moving the 2m rule, we should look at increasing capacity further.He reminded us that tram frequency is increasing from Monday and that the Government should look at utilising unused coaches
