MORE than 500 patients that have tested positive for Covid-19 are now in hospitals across Dorset.

This is around three times the number of in-patients that were diagnosed with the virus in the county's hospitals during the first wave.

According to Public Health Dorset, the maximum number of hospitalisations associated with coronavirus was around 130 during the first peak of the pandemic last year. 

The organisation added: "This is the most serious situation our local NHS services have ever faced. Play your part and stay at home."

Responding to this news on Twitter, mayor of Gillingham Barry Von Clemens said: "Please take note of these figures and then stay home."

Between January 6 and 13, 1,143 people had tested positive for Covid-19 in Dorset, and as of yesterday, January 18, since the beginning of the pandemic there has been 8,007 positive cases.

The figures come as Dorset Council posted warnings to residents in the county.

Cards with the heading 'Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives' have dropped through letter boxes throughout Dorset in recent days.

The council communication begins: "The situation across Dorset is not like anything we have seen before and the most serious our local NHS services have faced.

"Every hour someone is being admitted to our hospitals with Covid-19.

"Your relative, friend or neighbour could be next."

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