MORE than 600 coronavirus cases were recorded in Dorset over the last 24 hours, latest figures show.

Data released by the government shows, in the 24 hours leading up to 4pm on Friday, 608 cases were confirmed in the county.

The BCP Council area recorded 421 new cases, taking the conurbation’s total since the start of the pandemic to 19,933.

In the Dorset Council area, 187 cases were confirmed, taking the total the 8,629.

In the seven days leading up to January 17, the latest seven-day rolling period, 2,996 cases were recorded in BCP, giving a rolling infection rate of 757.8 per 100,000 people.

The rolling rate in the Dorset Council area was 307.8 per 100,000, with 1,165 cases confirmed in the latest seven-day rolling period.

Yesterday, 495 cases were confirmed across the county.

Elsewhere, 88 cases were confirmed in the New Forest in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 4,860.

The rolling rate was 317.1 per 100,000 after 571 cases were recorded in the seven days leading up to January 17.