FEWER than 40 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Dorset over the last 24 hours, latest figures show.

In the 24 hours leading up to 4pm on Thursday, 38 cases of Covid-19 were recorded across the county.

The BCP Council recorded just 14 cases, taking its total since the start of the pandemic to 24,546.

In the seven days leading up to February 20, the latest rolling seven-day period, 451 cases were confirmed, giving a rolling infection rate of 114.1 per 100,000 people.

The Dorset Council area recorded 24 new cases, taking the total to 11,160.

The rolling rate stood at 77.7 per 100,000 people with 294 cases confirmed in a week.

Elsewhere, 13 cases were recorded in the New Forest, taking the total to 5,868.

The rolling rate was 66.1 per 100,000 with 119 cases confirmed in the week before February 20.