A ‘rapid increase’ of coronavirus cases in Dorset has been cited as a key reason why both council areas have been moved up Tiers by the Government.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced yesterday that Dorset Council area will enter Tier 3 from midnight on New Year’s Eve as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole meanwhile entered Tier 4. Both areas had been in Tier 2 since the end of the second national lockdown.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said the new Covid-19 variant ‘has been circulating have increased faster than expected’ and is putting pressure on the NHS.

Written statements published following Mr Hancock's announcements show the government's reasoning for Dorset Council being in Tier 3 and BCP Council area being in Tier 4.

SEE MORE - What Tier 3 rules will mean for Dorset residents

The Government states there has been a ‘rapid increase’ in cases among all age groups in Dorset Council area, while there is ‘great concern’ for BCP Council area with the case rate tripling within a short period.

A statement reads: “In the last week the picture in Dorset has deteriorated, with a rapid increase in case rates in all ages (up by 74 per cent to 120 per 100,000 per week), though from a relatively low base.

“In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole the epidemiological indicators have quickly deteriorated (from a higher base), with case rates in all ages increasing by 65 per cent to 219 per 100,000 per week, and test positivity over six per cent.

“The case rate in people aged over 60 is also high at 147 per 100,000 per week. Within the area there is a difference in current rates and trajectories of the epidemiological indicators between the two local authorities.

Dorset Echo: Map shows which Tier each local authority is in. Map shows which Tier each local authority is in.

“The situation is of greatest concern in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and therefore it warrants escalation to Tier 4.

“The rest of Dorset is showing increases in case rate for all ages and therefore now warrants escalation to Tier 3.”

When the Tier system was introduced by the Government, both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock said that the Tiers for each area would be reviewed every two weeks.

The next official Tier review should come on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.