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Government publishes list of Tier 3 areas set to receive mass testing from Monday

Oldham will be among the first areas to launch rapid testing - focusing on communities most significantly affected by the virus, higher risk supported living settings, health and social care staff, schools and colleges.

The Manc The Manc - 14th December 2020
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The ten boroughs of Greater Manchester have been included on the list of 67 areas set to participate in a mass programme of rapid testing like the one seen in Liverpool earlier this year.

Oldham is among the first to launch a testing strategy – which will focus on communities most affected by the virus such as supported living settings, health and social care staff, schools and colleges.

The rapid test scheme – which involves lateral flow tests – is being rolled out to high risk areas to help identify COVID cases even when carriers have no symptoms.

It is thought that as many as one in three COVID sufferers could be asymptomatic.

The government will provide additional support and resources to run the mass testing programmes for up to six weeks.

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Oldham / Wikimedia Commons

More than 1.6 million lateral flow tests will be immediately delivered for use – with more set to follow in 2021.

The government claims that ‘community testing will help put Tier 3 areas on a route out of toughest restrictions’.

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock called the programme a “vital tool” in the fight against coronavirus, stating: “I urge all those living in areas where community testing is offered to come forward and get tested.”

The full list of local authorities aiming to begin testing in December include:

  • Bolton
  • Bury
  • Manchester
  • Oldham
  • Rochdale
  • Salford
  • Stockport
  • Tameside
  • Trafford
  • Wigan

Every resident in Greater Manchester is currently living under the tightest restrictions despite most areas seeing a significant drop in cases over the past few weeks.

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The region’s leaders have already said they will “press very hard” for Greater Manchester to be reclassified as a Tier Two area before Christmas.

A tier review is due on Wednesday.

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Olivia Dean at Albert Hall – star stuns in every way in Manchester

Abbie Bartlett Abbie Bartlett Olivia Dean at Albert Hall in Manchester with stunning silk silver dress on and six person band

24-year-old neo soul singer Olivia Dean was in Manchester last night performing her Mercury prize-nominated album effortlessly with a voice and style made for the stage.

Fans of the star have watched her go from strength to strength over the past year, from being nominated for three Brits, performing at Coachella and now preparing for this year’s Glastonbury festival.

As someone who frequents gigs like they’re going out of fashion, it’s a bold statement but I think this may be one of the best I’ve ever experienced, and Olivia Dean can only be described being a star.

Before we dive into the performance, it’s only fair to take a minute to shoutout what an incredible venue for music the Albert Hall is. The former Methodist hall projects and echos acoustics perfectly and the raised stage and balcony area mean everyone in the building has a good view.

It’s no surprise that given her recent success the show at the Albert Hall was a complete sell-out, appearing on stage in a stunning floor-length silk dress the sea of fans filled the venue with admiring applause.

Olivia looked stunning in a floor length dress.
The crowd was mesmorised.

With a seven-piece band behind her, the star jumped straight into an atmospheric UFO before a cheery ‘How are we Manchester?’ and raising a can of Red Stripe. She quickly follows with Ok Love You Bye – a track that gets the whole crowd singing along and contemplating their past love decisions (maybe that last bit was just me).

The singer seamlessly glided through her set with ease, tambourine in hand, wowing fans with gorgeous melodies and relatable lyrics.

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Gracefully sitting at the piano the room fell to silence as we heard Everybody’s Crazy and I Could Be a Florist, I’d predict I wasn’t the only person crying at this point.

As the evening rolled on and the songs kept coming the genuine talent Olivia has, not just as a singer but as a lyricist, had the crowd hooked on her every word. Of course she ends with Dive, the standout track from the album that perfectly depicts how it feels to fall in love.

Olivia Dean 2024 setlist

  1. UFO 
  2. Ok Love You Bye
  3. Echo
  4. Danger
  5. Cross My Mind
  6. Be My Own Boyfriend 
  7. What Am I Gonna Do on Sundays?
  8. No Man 
  9. Messy
  10. Touching Toes 
  11. Everybody’s Crazy 
  12. I Could Be a Florist 
  13. Ladies Room 
  14. Reason to Stay 
  15. The Hardest Part
  16. Carmen

Saying her goodbyes with a ‘I’ve had such a lovely evening’ and telling the crowd how happy she is to be back home in the UK after recent shows in America.

Experiencing Olivia Dean at Albert Hall felt genuinely special, the star is destined for a life time of deserved fame but her voice was made to be experiences in an intimate venue. The opportunity to enjoy her talent in such a perfect venue was nothing short of a divine evening.

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2024 Manchester Marathon raises £29 million for local economy and over £3.7m for charity

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester Marathon raises millions for city economy and local charity

Just under a fortnight on from the 2024 Manchester Marathon and the numbers are finally, with the annual race generating nearly £30 million for the local economy and raising over £3.7m for charity.

This year’s Adidas Manchester Marathon saw record numbers of runners and spectators as over 30,000 took part in the popular race, up by roughly 6,000 from 2023, and more than 125k turned up to line the streets of Greater Manchester.

As a result, these huge crowds spent upwards of £29.2 million at business around the city centre and around the 10 boroughs last weekend, serving as one of the most significant contributions to the local economy on the annual calendar.

Not only was this an approximately £8m increase on last year’s tally but, most importantly, a sizeable chunk of that went straight into both regional and national charities.

The 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon was a spectacular day for the city and its economy.

Beyond the boost to local vendors, the hospitality sector and retail businesses, over £3.7 million were allocated to charities such as Alzheimer’s Charity, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation and The Christie. 

Over £32,000 was also raised for the Trafford Active Fund, with £1 from every paid entry to the Adidas Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half donated directly to the initiative that benefits local sports clubs and organisations through Trafford Council.

Better still, with City of Trees selected as the chosen ‘Green Runner’ charity, the eco-friendly drive saw roughly 7% of participants opt out of receiving either a finisher t-shirt, medal or both.

The money saved in production goes towards maintaining woodlands and wildlife across Greater Manchester.

Fundraising from the Manchester Marathon is one of it’s biggest upshots.

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This year’s Manchester Marathon also helped produce some of the highest number of passengers on public transport in the city’s history, with a over 175,000 journeys made on Metrolink alone – the highest number of journeys ever recorded on a single day.

This was a 20% increase on 2023’s race day (145k), spotlighting how the event continues to be more environmentally conscious as years go by.

With the 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon confirmed to be taking place on Sunday, 27 April next year – and over 12,000 places already sold – the city can already look forward to reaping the economic and social benefits of hosting one of Europe’s largest, flattest, friendliest and most-loved marathons. 

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Adidas Manchester Marathon/The Manc Group

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