OUTBREAKS of the coronavirus within care homes have seen the rate of infection within over-60s in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole continue to rise.

The overall rate within the BCP Council area has now started to fall – although it is still well above the England average – but this trend has yet to be mirrored in the older age group.

Speaking on Monday, Dorset director of public health Sam Crowe said the figures were “extremely concerning” with as much as two-thirds of these infections coming in care homes.

According to Office for National Statistics data, 40 people living in care homes in the area have died with the coronavirus in 2021 – more than a quarter of the total since recording started in April.

But while the overall rate of infection is now falling it has continued to increase among over-60s.

Comparing the seven-day infection rate between January 9 and January 14 the overall figure has fallen from 881 to 832 per 100,000. This is still significantly above the England average of 499.

However, the rate for over-60s has risen from 641 to 691 over the same period and now total about 13.5 per cent of positive cases.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting of BCP Council’s health scrutiny committee, Mr Crowe said this was being driven by outbreaks of the virus in care homes.

“This is an extremely concerning picture and a significant proportion of those cases – perhaps half to two-thirds – are connected with current outbreaks in care homes,” he said.

“Not only does this feed into bed occupancy in hospitals but it also feeds into the wider system, particularly our care sector.”

He said a peak in local hospital demand from coronavirus cases was not expected to be reached until Sunday.

But councillor L-J Evans, a GP and the vice-chairwoman of the committee, questioned whether rising cases in the older age group could extend the peak.

Mr Crowe said the date had been based on computer modelling but said if rates do not start to fall then it will have to be revised, saying it was “a worrying situation”.

Councillor Nicola Greene, cabinet member for the council’s coronavirus response, said lockdown measures were “absolutely crucial” to efforts to bring case numbers down.