ALMOST 140 people have tested positive for Covid-19 across Dorset in the last 24-hours.

Latest figures published on the government website show a total of 139 cases were confirmed in the 24-hours up to 9.30pm on Thursday, November 5.

In the BCP area, 97 cases were reported, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 4,408.

In the wider Dorset area, 42 cases have been reported during the same period. Overall, 2,276 cases have been confirmed since March.

The number of cases in the BCP area over the past seven days is 817 with a case rate of 206.7, In Dorset, 396 cases have been confirmed in the past seven days. The case rate is 104.6.

In the New Forest, 16 new cases were confirmed. The total in the district since the start of the pandemic is now 1,284. 

A total of 156 cases have been seen in the past seven days and the case rate is 86.6.

The previous day, 163 positive coronavirus cases were reported across Dorset.

On Thursday, Public Health Dorset said 113 coronavirus patients are in hospital beds across Dorset.

The figure, for the week leading up to November 4, is in stark comparison to the 85 Covid patients in hospital beds for the week leading up to October 27.

A Public Health Dorset spokesman said: "Our case rates remain high, particularly in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area, so we need everyone to follow the rules during lockdown to bring these case rates down so we can return to fewer restrictions."