MORE than 600 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Dorset over the last 24 hours, latest figures show.

Data released by the government shows 607 cases were confirmed across the county in the 24 hours leading up to 4pm on Saturday.

The BCP Council area recorded 442 cases, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 17,725.

In the seven days leading up to January 11, the latest rolling seven-day period, 3,455 cases were confirmed, giving a rolling infection rate of 874 per 100,000 people.

The Dorset Council area recorded 165 cases, taking the total to 7,668.

The rolling rate stood at 309.4 per 100,000 with 1,171 cases confirmed in the latest seven-day period.

Elsewhere, 75 cases were confirmed in the New Forest, taking the total to 4,402.

The rolling rate was 364.3 after 656 cases were confirmed in a week.