Coronavirus: 80 more cases confirmed in Greater Manchester

There are 94 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Greater Manchester

The stark increase in UK Coronavirus case numbers has continued during the past 24 hours.

As of yesterday evening (Wednesday), there were 94 confirmed cases in Greater Manchester - up from 80 the day before.

There are currently 12 confirmed cases in the Oldham area, while tragically, at least five people across the Greater Manchester region have died after contracting COVID-19.

Emergency legislation to tackle the coronavirus outbreak will be published in Parliament after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the closure of schools and cancellation of exams yesterday.

The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, said the government will be issuing guidance tomorrow to pupils unable to sit their exams due to school closures and how they will be awarded their grades.

He said there will be an announcement tomorrow (Friday) as to how students unable to sit GCSEs and A-levels will receive their grades.

Mr Williamson said there will be a “proper and fair system” of appeal for those who are unhappy with the results given.

He said: "We will be doing everything we can do to make sure they get their results in August as they will be hoping to, but we can’t predict as to how they are going to unfold.

"It is absolutely vital for me for those children who have put so much work into all their learning over these years working up to their GCSEs and A-levels to get their results, but also making sure that we have a proper and fair system if they dispute that, if they are not content with it, there is some mechanism for them to have redress.”

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