MORE than 80 people have died in care homes across Dorset after contracting coronavirus, the Office for National Statistics has confirmed.

The figures, that are released weekly by the ONS and the Care Quality Commission, show 42 care home residents died in the county from April 25 to May 1.

It takes the total for the county to 88.

47 of the care home deaths have come in the BCP Counil area, including nine on April 30.

In the Dorset Council area, 41 people have died in care homes, the latest coming on April 29 when one person died.

As previously reported, more people in Dorset are now dying from the coronavirus in care homes than in hospitals, according to the latest figures.

Although most deaths from Covid-19 in the county have so far happened in hospitals, ONS data shows more people died in care homes in the week ending April 17.