EIGHT new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the borough.

A total of 2,010 people have now tested positive for the virus across the borough, with 226 patients at the Royal Bolton Hospital dying after contracting the virus.

Across England, 105,564 tests were carried out in the 24 hours between 9am on Sunday, and 9am yesterday morning. No data is available for testing rates at a regional or local level.

The latest data came as officials blamed rising demand and “unexpected delays” for problems in providing coronavirus testing for care home staff and residents.

Downing Street insisted testing in care homes had not stopped but acknowledged that progress had not be as quick as had been hoped due to issues identified in Randox tests in mid-June.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Any care home resident or member of staff with symptoms can immediately access a free test and we are continuing to roll out asymptomatic regular testing, for staff and residents, to care homes.

“However, due to rising demand across testing and some unexpected delays such as the pause on the use of Randox kit, we’ve not been able to reach all care homes as quickly as we’d hoped.”