Health officials from Wigan Council have confirmed the news to Wigan Today this afternoon.

It has not been revealed if the third case is linked to the two diagnoses previously announced.

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Prof Kate Ardern, director of public health at Wigan Council, said: "We currently have three confirmed cases of COVID-19.

"I can't comment on individual circumstances in terms of patient confidentiality, but our tried and tested plans in terms of identifying cases and contact tracing is working incredibly well. We are working to our outbreak plan which we have in the borough, which is tried, tested and exercised on a regular basis, and all of our planning and preparedness is based on pandemic influenza preparedness."

She said she could not give more details about the cases, other than to say there was a "history of travel".

"It is not circulating in our area at the moment, but inevitably it will because that's the nature of viruses," Prof Ardern said.

A third case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Wigan

"We don't have specific treatment, as the anti-viral treatment for flu won't work and currently there is no prospect of a vaccine being available."

Prof Ardern said the council was working closely with partners, such as NHS Wigan Borough CCG, and had updated information on its website for residents.

Schools have also been contacted. Garrett Hall Primary School in Tyldesley closed on Thursday and Friday for a "deep clean" after a family had contact with two people with coronavirus.

Prof Ardern said: "We are working closely with schools. We have written to all the headteachers reminding them about the guidance that's available and support from Public Health England and the Department for Education."

Prof Kate Ardern

For most people with coronavirus, she said, it was like having a "bad cold". It does not tend to affect children and is "generally low risk" for healthy adults.

It can be serious for people over the age of 80 who have other health issues, though the fatality rate for that group is still one per cent.

Prof Ardern said: "The key message from me is COVID-19 is part of the coronavirus. We have all had coronavirus at some point because we have had a cold - the coronavirus family is one that causes the cold.

"We are taking it seriously because it's a new member of the family, none of us have resistance so it's highly infectious."

The message to residents was to continue observing the hygiene guidelines to avoid spreading the virus further.