ALMOST 350 people have tested positive for Covid-19 across Dorset in the past day.

Latest data on the government website shows 206 new cases were confirmed in the BCP Council area in the 24-hours up to 4.20pm on Wednesday, January 27.

Since the start of the pandemic, 21,285 people have returned a positive result for the coronavirus across the conurbation.

In Dorset, there have been 142 new cases in the past 24-hours, bringing the cumulative total to 9,228.

Over the last seven days, another 2,466 cases have been identified in the BCP area, giving a rate per 100,000 people of 623.8.

The current average rate for England is 386.6.

A total of 1,054 cases have been recorded in Dorset with a rate of 278.5.

Elsewhere, 45 new cases have been confirmed in the New Forest, bringing the overall total to 5,112.

There have been 487 new cases in the district in the past week with a rate of 270.4.

Yesterday, 287 new Covid cases were confirmed across Dorset.