FAKE news warning of a second wave of coronavirus leading to a local lockdown in Bolton is spreading on WhatsApp groups across the borough.

The message falsely claims that wards at the Royal Bolton Hospital are “filling up again” and that there will be another “good lockdown” in two weeks’ time.

The false message, claiming to be from a nurse in Bolton who “wishes to stay anonymous”, specifically says that there are a lot of children in hospital at the moment with more Asian patients present than any other ethnic group.

But authorities in the borough have confirmed the claims are false and the number of cases of coronavirus at the Royal Bolton Hospital is actually falling.

A joint statement has been issued by the chief executives of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, the clinical commissioning group (CCG) and the council.

It said: “We are aware that a false report is circulating on social media about the number of COVID-19 patients at Royal Bolton Hospital.

“The information contained in this report is false and should be ignored as it has come from what we believe to be a fake account, designed to create fear and panic among our communities.

“There are a small number of adult patients who are COVID-19 positive at the hospital, but currently we are not seeing a rise in cases and we have no children who are COVID positive.

“The reduced levels of the virus circulating in the community has been achieved through the efforts of our residents in continuing to exercise social distancing and following government guidance on meeting others and we thank everyone for their efforts and support.

“The infection rate data for Bolton does not indicate that we need to have a localised lockdown and any report of this happening is also untrue. The latest figures also show that the level of infection reported for Bolton is significantly lower than the previous week.

“However, unfortunately the virus is still with us, and in the north west we appear to be more affected than other parts of the country. We therefore ask you to please continue to stay alert and take sensible precautions when away from home, so that we can continue to keep our resources for helping those who need it.

“We also ask you to be mindful of what is known as ‘fake news’ and take information directly from our official websites and social media channels which are updated frequently. ”

Bolton CCG chief officer Su Long told a public board meeting on Friday morning about the fake news spreading on social media.

She said: “There have been false reports spreading on social media and being shared across the community suggesting that numbers are on the rise in hospital of COVID in Bolton and suggesting that our Asian community is seeing a big rise.

“Those are believed to be false accounts circulating either by people who are worried by lockdown being lessened and seeking to scare people back into their homes, or by people seeking to cause upset generally.

“The hospital has been working with community groups to try to get a statement out about the fact that there are only a small number of people at the hospital who are COVID positive at the moment and that the infection rate doesn’t indicate a need for a local lockdown.”

Breightmet councillor Adele Warren has seen messages shared in a WhatsApp group saying that a large number of children are in a critical condition and that the hospital is struggling with COVID-19 cases.

She said: “This is irresponsible and is designed to create fear and cause panic.

“These messages can start in a small group and be shared vastly.

“It is really important that we know the facts and we do not want people thinking that those things are happening and then not going to hospital.”