Where Covid-19 cases in Dorset are decreasing and areas with highest cases

An interactive map, which uses Public Health England data, shows how many people have tested positive for the virus in each area of the county over the seven-day period up to Sunday, February 21. 

Public Health England breaks down the numbers of coronavirus cases into neighbourhoods called 'Middle Super Output Areas' (MSOAs), which are smaller than council wards and based on population rather than geographical area.

The interactive map, which can be found through this link, allows users to type in their postcode and see how many cases were reported in their area and if it has increased or decreased from the week before. The darker the colour on the image, the more positive test results have been recorded.

The map highlights which areas of the county have three or more confirmed cases of the virus and colour co-coordinates the areas by how many cases they have.

The varying levels of coronavirus cases in Dorset according to Public Health England.

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In the seven days up to Sunday, February 21, Dorset reported 716 cases. The case rate compared to the UK average is near the national average, which has been steadily increasing in recent weeks.  

A majority of areas in Dorset have reported either slight or large decreases of new coronavirus cases.

Note: This article includes the most recent data available at the time of publication.

The following areas in Dorset have confirmed five or fewer cases in the last week:

• Alderholt & Sixpenny Handley - Suppressed (meaning there are less than three cases) 
• Beaminster, Maiden Newton & Halstock - Suppressed 
• Broadwey & Littlemoor - Suppressed
• Bridport South & West Bay - Suppressed
• Chickerell & Chesil Bank - Suppressed
• Corfe Castle & Langton Matravers - Suppressed 
• East Howe & Ensbury Park - Suppressed 
• East Southbourne & Hengistbury Head - Suppressed 
• Jumpers Common & Fairmile - Suppressed 
• Littledown - Suppressed 
• Milborne, Winterborne & Okeford Fitzpaine - Suppressed 
• Mudeford - Suppressed 
• Sherborne - Suppressed 
• St Leonards - Suppressed 
• Wyke Regis - Suppressed 
• Yetminster, Bradford Abbas & Longburton - Suppressed
• Bridport North - Three cases 
• Ferndown West & Canford Bottom - Three cases 
• Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Marshwood Vale - Three cases 
• Swanage - Three cases 
• Wareham, Sandford & Holton Heath - Three cases 
• Westham North & Radipole - Three cases 
• Westham South  - Three cases 
• Blandford Outer & Tarrants - Four cases 
• Blandford Town - Four cases 
• Bovington, Wool & Lulworth - Four cases 
• Charlton Down, Cerne Abbas & Puddletown - Four cases  
• Colehill - Four cases  
• Hamworthy West - Four cases  
• Merley - Four cases 
• Southbourne West - Four cases
• West Highcliffe - Four cases 
• West Verwood - Four cases 
• Wimborne Minster - Four cases  
• Bearwood - Five cases 
• Broadstone - Five cases 
• Burton Bradstock & Chideock - Five cases 
• Dorchester East - Five cases 
• Shaftesbury - Five cases 
• Townsend & Strouden - Five cases 
• Upton & Lytchett Minster - Five cases

The following 10 areas in Dorset confirmed the most cases in the last week:

• West Howe - 14 cases
• Canford Heath East - 16 cases
• Dorchester West & Poundbury - 17 cases 
• Boscombe West -18 cases 
• Poole Town - 18 cases
• Newtown - 21 cases
• East Cliff - 22 cases
• Queens Park - 23 cases 
• Central Bournemouth -24 cases 
• Underhill & The Grove - 54 cases  

The updated 'R rate' for the South West, including Dorset, has decreased to between 0.6 - 0.8, which is below the latest R number range for the UK of 0.6 - 0.9.

The Government says an R-value between 0.6 and 0.8 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between six and eight other people.

The current growth rate in the South West is set at -7 to -4. The size of the growth rate indicates the speed of change.