THE coronavirus case rates across Dorset and BCP Council areas have almost doubled in a week, according to the latest figures.

In the BCP Council region the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 for the seven days up to December 18 was 154.6 cases per 100,000 people, with 611 positive tests in this period.

Across the seven days to December 11, the rate was 79.7, with 315 cases recorded.

In the Dorset Council area, the seven-day rolling rate has risen from 44.4 (168 cases) up to December 11 to 79.5 (301 cases) for up to December 18.

The Government says data for the most recent four days (December 19 to December 22) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

The latest figures show BCP Council with the 244th highest rate of 315 local authorities across England, while Dorset is 309th highest or seventh lowest.

Of the 315 local authority areas in England, 285 (90 per cent) have seen a rise in case rates in the latest weekly figures and 30 (10 per cent) have seen a fall.

The seven-day rolling rate across all of England stands at 304.2 cases per 100,000 people.

All of Dorset is currently in Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions following the Government's review last week.

However, since then concerns have been voiced by scientists and ministers over a mutant strain of Covid-19 which has spread widely and rapidly across the south east and London.

This led to the introduction of Tier 4 measures and an alteration of the Christmas easing, with up to three households in Tier 1, 2 and 3 able to mix on December 25 only.

Those living in Tier 4 are not permitted to meet inside with people outside of their support bubble.