MORE than 200 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Dorset, according to the government.

Latest figures published on the Department of Health and Social Care's website show an additional 205 positive cases have been recorded across the county in 24 hours up to 4pm on Friday, November 6.

In the BCP area, 144 cases were reported, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 4,552.

In the wider Dorset Council area, 61 cases have been reported during the same period. Overall, 2,337 cases have been confirmed since March.

The number of cases in the BCP area over the latest rolling seven-day period is 781, with a rate of 197.6. In Dorset, 378 cases have been confirmed in the past seven days. The case rate is 99.9.

In the New Forest, 34 new cases were confirmed. The total in the district since the start of the pandemic is now 1,318. A total of 151 cases have been seen in the past seven days and the case rate is 83.8.

The previous day, 139 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 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."