FEWER than 50 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Dorset over the last 24 hours.

The government’s daily update shows 47 cases were confirmed across the county in the 24 hours leading up to 4pm on Thursday.

The BCP Council area recorded 24 new cases, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 24,737.

In the seven days leading up to February 27, the latest rolling seven-day period, 249 cases were confirmed, giving a rolling infection rate of 63 per 100,000 people.

The Dorset Council area recorded 23 new cases, taking the total to 11,308.

The rolling rate stood at 51.3 per 100,000 with 194 cases confirmed in a week.

Elsewhere, nine cases were confirmed in the New Forest, taking the total to 5,931.

The rolling rate stood at 45 after 81 cases were confirmed in the week leading up to February 27.