TEN areas of Dorset recorded fewer than ten coronavirus cases in a week.

An interactive map, which uses Public Health England data, shows how many people have tested positive for the virus in each area of the county over the seven-day period up to Sunday, February 6.

Public Health England breaks down the numbers of coronavirus cases into neighbourhoods called 'Middle Super Output Areas' (MSOAs), which are smaller than council wards and based on population rather than geographical area.

Dorset recorded 1,495 coronavirus cases in the seven days leaving up to February 6, with the case rate nearing the national average.

The ten areas in Dorset with least cases in the last week were as follows:

  • Overmoigne, Broadmayne & Winterbourne - Suppressed (meaning there are less than three cases)
  • West Highcliffe - Suppressed
  • Colehill - Three cases
  • Beaminster, Maiden Newton & Halstock - Four cases
  • Burton Bradstock & Chideock - Four cases
  • Corfe Castle & Langton Matravers - Four cases
  • East Southbourne & Hengistbury Head - Four cases
  • Bridport South & West Bay - Five cases
  • Bearwood - Five cases
  • Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Marshwood Vale - Six cases

The updated 'R rate' for the South West, including Dorset, remains between 0.7 - 0.9, which is on par with the latest R number range for the UK of 0.7 - 0.9. It is the first time the R Rate for the UK has been below 1 since July 2020.

The Government says an R-value between 0.7 and 0.9 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between seven and nine other people.

The current growth rate in the South West is set at -5 to -3. The size of the growth rate indicates the speed of change.

To view the interactive map, click here.