CASES of coronavirus are continuing to fall across Dorset, as data shows that the spread of Covid-19 has slowed down in the county.  

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 Wednesday, March 3.

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.

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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.

Dorset Echo: The varying levels of coronavirus in Dorset. Picture: Public Health EnglandThe varying levels of coronavirus in Dorset. Picture: Public Health England

In the seven days up to Wednesday, March 3, Dorset reported 280 cases. The case rate compared to the UK average is below the national average.

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A majority of areas in Dorset have reported either slight or large decreases of new coronavirus cases, with dozens of areas reporting no active coronavirus cases.

There are five areas with more than 10 cases in Dorset, including Underhill & The Grove which at one point reported the highest number of coronavirus cases in the South West.

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

  • Charminster (BCP Council) – 7 cases
  • Poole Town – 7 cases
  • Highcliffe & Walkford – 7 cases
  • Upton & Lytchett Minster – 7 cases
  • Burton & Airport – 8 cases
  • Dorchester West & Poundbury – 10 cases
  • Central Bournemouth – 11 cases
  • Southwell & Weston – 11 cases
  • Oakdale East – 13 cases
  • Underhill & The Grove - 13 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 0.7 - 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 -8 to -5. The size of the growth rate indicates the speed of change.

A growth rate of between -8 per cent and -5 per cent means that the number of new infections is shrinking by between five and eight per cent every day.

Last week, the South West had an R rate of 0.6 - 0.8, with a growth rate between -7 per cent to -4 per cent.