PUBLIC health bosses have urged people in Bolton to stay at home as much as they can as the coronavirus reinfection number rises in the region.

The ‘R’ number in the North West is now 1.01 – the highest in England, prompting Dr Helen Lowey, Bolton Council’s director of public health, to urge people in the borough to keep following the latest government rules on the lockdown.

News of the rise in the R rate was met with a huge response from readers online, including many who blame local parents for allowing their children to break rules during lockdown.

READ MORE: ‘We need your help’ plea as coronavirus regional reinfection ‘R’ number rises above 1

Others hit out at the Government, including criticising under pressure Number 10 aide Dominic Cummings, who was heavily criticised for a trip to the North East during lockdown.

Here's a selection of some of what you've been saying about this issue...

Horace the Third: "Unfortunately there are many people who aren't taking lockdown measures seriously. Just because deaths are falling they're relaxing their behaviour, proof of which we've seen many times on here.

"Comments such as 'it's only like the 'flu' don't help either.

"We still need to exercise care or there'll be a second wave, which is what's happened in other countries. Sweden has admitted that it made a big mistake by not locking down and it's now paying the price with a death toll ten times higher than neighboring Norway, and climbing.

"Be sensible folks. Keep your distance and keep safe."

READ MORE: Staff at school for children with special needs test positive for coronavirus

Bolton Supporter replied saying: "Unfortunately there are many people who aren't taking lockdown measures seriously.' - correct, such as Dominic Cummings. But Boris was too spineless to sack him.

"One rule for one and one rule for others."

manchester1 was critical of parents after numerous reports of large scale gatherings in Bolton, where young people were seen breaking social distancing rules to host parties. They said: "Due to the lack of intellectual mental capacity to comprehend the situation with in this area, the lack of following the rules, both youths and adults, the absence of parenting and the general overall apathy to this pandemic of the NW population, albeit, not all but all are affected, this R rate will only rise and we will be suffer to further deaths with in this community. Too late to stop it?"

AmethystMoon posed: "We have too many people who think they are invincible and have no consideration for anyone else.

"If you go back over the last few weeks to see what has been dominating the news and you will find it is predominately on the scrotes that are not social distancing, Kids (and some adults) who quite frankly need locking up for deliberately flouting the lockdown rules and the ones who have no idea what 2m is and do not social distance.

"I won't be surprised if a Local lockdown comes into force and it will be because of these few scrotey not rights, they will be the ones to blame."

What do you think needs to be done in response to the R rate rising locally? Get in touch or comment below with your views.