Covid: Why BCP's figures were so high on November 16

It is now prioritising addresses given at the point of testing over the details registered on a patient’s NHS Summary Care Record.

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As a result, it says the number of cases reported on November 16, when the change came into effect, may be “artificially high or low”.

Data published on the government website for the 24-hours up to 6.31pm on November 16, showed 455 new cases in the BCP Council area bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 6.255.

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However, the Dorset Council area and New Forest appeared to show no new cases at all.

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A statement on the government website said: “Cases are allocated to the person's area of residence. From 16 November 2020, PHE has updated the way it records the location of people who test positive or negative for COVID-19.

“It now prioritises addresses given at the point of testing over the details registered on a patient’s NHS Summary Care Record. This better reflects the distribution of cases and testing.

It continued: “However, it may give rise to differences in previously reported numbers of cases and rates in some areas. The change has been retrospectively applied to tests carried out from 1 September 2020, and data in the dashboard was updated to reflect this change on 16 November 2020.

“Due to reallocation of cases in this way, the number of cases reported by local authority may be artificially high or low on 16 November 2020.”