Residents in Trafford have reported receiving message alerts from their GPs and doctors surgeries today following a spike in coronavirus cases in the borough.
New cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed to have jumped in the Greater Manchester borough of Trafford last week, but health officials have insisted that the numbers remain “very low” overall.
A total of 77 new cases were recorded overall for the week between 18th – 25th July.
57% of those were people aged 25 or below.
Trafford Council has described this spike in cases “striking”, but is putting it down to the number of people between the ages of 17-23 choosing to get tested and have praised young people for doing so.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s great to be out and about but make sure you stay covid alert!
We have low numbers of cases in Trafford but have seen a rise amongst young people so please stay outdoors if you can, avoid crowded places and protect your more vulnerable friends and family. pic.twitter.com/03wPNnIi99
Now, people across the borough have started receiving message alerts from their GPs or doctors surgeries warning them to take extra care.
The message alert – received by residents either via text, email or other – states that “numbers are low”, but cases are in fact rising “especially amongst 17-23 year olds” and they should “take extra care if seeing family and friends”.
ADVERTISEMENT
It reads in full: “While numbers are low, COVID-19 cases are rising especially amongst 17-23 year-olds in Trafford.”
“If you, or members of your family go to public places, please do the right things to protect yourself and those around you; keep social distance, wash your hands regularly, wear a face covering where possible, and if you have symptoms, book a test here.”
“If you are in a higher risk group, please take extra care if seeing family and friends.”
ADVERTISEMENT
In a statement released yesterday, Eleanor Roaf – Director of Public Health at Trafford Council – said: “We have seen a rise in young people coming forward to be tested and this has led to an increase in positive cases.”
“We don’t know exactly why this is but we are thanking younger people for acting responsibly in coming forward for tests when they feel ill. We think that the young people have been contacting each other and raising awareness of the importance of testing.”
“If this is the case, we would like to thank them for their efforts, as this will help us stop further spread of the disease.”
“I would urge everyone to continue to stick to the rules around social distancing and hand-washing when they are meeting up with friends or going out to pubs and restaurants.”
Health leaders in Trafford are praising young people for coming forward to be tested for coronavirus.
Cllr Jane Slater – Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Equalities – added that while any increase in cases was a “cause for concern”, she was “reassured” that people were coming forward to be tested.
ADVERTISEMENT
She said: “No one should be complacent as the virus has not gone away and still poses a risk especially to the vulnerable in our society”.
For more information, visit the Trafford Council website here.
___
For further information and guidance amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, do refer to official sources via gov.uk/coronavirus.
#StaySafeSaveLives
Trending
Andy Burnham’s favourite Manchester pub, restaurant, neighbourhood and Sunday roast
Daisy Jackson
Andy Burnham’s favourite pub, restaurant, neighbourhood, and Sunday roast have been revealed – and the man’s got taste.
Old footage of now-PM Andy Burnham chatting to content creator Isaac Likes has been doing the rounds again, and while the interview dates back to before Andy left us and headed down to the big smoke, his Manchester recommendations still stand.
From his go-to neighbourhood and favourite pub to where he heads for a Sunday roast, and even the song he likes to play when he gets behind the decks, Burnham gave us a glimpse into his ideal Manchester day.
First up, there’s the Northern Quarter, which Burnham reckons has to be his favourite neighbourhood in the city.
He said: “Got to be the Northern Quarter. It’s the place where it’s all happening.”
When it comes to food, he singled out Firehouse, sitting on the edge of the Northern Quarter, as one of his favourite places to eat. He also gave a shoutout to its sister venue Ramona, where he’s been known to get behind the decks.
Andy said: “On the edge of the Northern Quarter, Firehouse is a place I love to go. Ramona Pizza, I’ve DJ’d there – if the mayor DJs there it’s gotta be alright.”
For a proper pint, Burnham’s choice is a little more traditional, saying his favourite pub is the ‘proper old school’ Peveril of the Peak.
The beautiful tiled pub was recently named the best in the UK, just days before its legendary landlady Nancy passed away.
When Sunday rolls around, Burnham said he has a couple of options up his sleeve. The Wharf in Castlefield gets a mention, as does Edinburgh Castle up in Ancoats.
The Peveril of the Peak pub in ManchesterThe Edinburgh CastleFirehouseSome of Andy Burnham’s favourite places in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
He said: “We love our gravy, we drink it by the pint in Manchester.”
Of course, no conversation with Burnham about Manchester would be complete without talking music.
Asked to name the best Manchester band of all time, he offered a few contenders – The Smiths, New Order, and, ultimately, The Stone Roses.
“The band I think are quintessentially Manchester is The Stone Roses. That was peak Manchester,” he said.
Manchester romcom Finding Emily is currently one of the best-reviewed films of 2026 so far
Emily Sergeant
A new romcom that is set, was filmed in, and actually romanticises Manchester is soon to be released overseas.
If you haven’t had the chance to see Finding Emily for yourself yet, the film is set in Manchester at the fictional Manchester City University and tells the story of a lovesick musician, played by Spike Fearn, who meets his dream girl named Emily on a night out.
Sadly though, he ends up with the wrong phone number for Emily, and so teams up with a driven psychology student, played by Angourie Rice, in a bid to find her.
Together, the unlikely duo spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.
The film – which is directed by Alicia MacDonald, based on a screenplay by Rachel Hirons, and produced by Working Title Films – is filled with notable local locations dotted throughout, from Manchester Central Library and Piccadilly Records, to Canal Street, the Northern Quarter, and even the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St Peter’s Square featured for all to see.
Oh, and not to mention, if you keep your eyes peeled when watching the trailer, you can even see a small clip of Stockport band Blossoms playing a gig in there too.
Finding Emily was released here in the UK back in May, and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans and critics, including by The Manc Group team when we were lucky enough to see it at the Manchester premiere.
And ahead of its international release this week (Friday 26 August), those reviews have remained as glowing as ever.
In fact, over on major film review platform Rotten Tomatoes, the film stands at 95% on the ‘tomatometer’, meaning it’s one of the highest-rated romcoms of the decade so far.
That also makes it one of the best-reviewed movies of the entire year, in addition to its record score for the genre itself, as only two other films released in 2026 have retained scores higher than it – thrilling Hong Kong action film, The Furious, with a score of 98%, and the uniquely hilarious Olivia Wilde directed and starring, The Invite, with a score of 97%.
Unfortunately, box office projections for Finding Emily are pretty low for the weekend over in the US, as it has to contend with continuing big-hitters like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey.
But it says a lot that this fun-filled original romcom set in our incredible city is more critically acclaimed than those two blockbusters based on existing IP.
Critics say Finding Emily ‘makes a tried-and-true formula feel brand new’, and to us, that’s about as good as you can get.
Finding Emily is no longer in UK cinemas, so if you would like to check it out, you can currently buy or rent the film on Amazon Prime UK, the Sky Store, or the Virgin Media Store.
The Manc -
29th July 2020 
