A TOTAL OF 180 more positive coronavirus tests were recorded across Dorset in the latest 24-hour period, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 2,523 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Tuesday in the Dorset Councl, up by 45 from 2,478 the same time on Monday.

There were 135 positive tests in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) area leading to a total of 5,017.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 20,412 over the period, to 1,233,775.

Dorset's cases were among the 54,534 recorded across the South West, a figure which rose by 1,125 over the period.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.

The health body is now including Pillar 2 tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar 1 tests, which are analysed in NHS or PHE laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.