THE rolling infection rate of coronavirus in the BCP Council area dropped below 200 as 119 cases were confirmed across the county.

Latest figures from the government shows 119 cases were confirmed across Dorset in the 24 hours leading up to 4pm on Sunday.

Of these cases, 78 were recorded in the BCP Council area, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 23,881.

In the seven days leading up to February 9, the latest rolling seven-day period, 782 cases were confirmed in BCP, giving a rolling infection rate of 197.8 per 100,000 people.

The Dorset Council area recorded 41 new cases, taking the total to 10,735.

The rolling rate stood at 117 after 443 cases were confirmed in a week.

Elsewhere, 21 cases were reported in the New Forest, taking the total to 5,680 since the start of the pandemic.

The rolling rate stood at 97.7 per 100,000 people after 176 cases were confirmed in the lead up to February 9.