MANY children will return to school on Monday for the first time since January 4.

Cases of the coronavirus have fallen dramatically over the past few weeks as the impact of lockdown takes effect as well as the rollout of the vaccine.

Here, we take a look at how cases compare to when pupils returned to the classroom in September after the summer break.

September 2020

Bournemouth Echo:

In the seven days to September 4, the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area had 52 Covid cases with a rate per 100,000 people of 13.2.

On an interactive map on the government website, most areas of Dorset were shown as “suppressed” meaning they had fewer than three cases.

The only places recording three or more cases were:

  • Swanage; four cases, rate 40.7
  • Poole Town; three cases, rate 25.2
  • Central Bournemouth, six cases, rate 46.2
  • Queens Park; four cases, rate 46.2
  • Parley & Hampreston, three cases, rate 31.1
  • Springbourne & Queen's Park, three cases, rate 32.5
  • Southbourne West; three cases, rate 34.7
  • Iford; three cases, rate 39.8
  • East Southbourne & Hengistbury Head; three cases, rate 36.3
  • Mudeford, four cases, rate 62.3
  • West Highcliffe; three cases, rate 49.3.

January 2021

Bournemouth Echo:

In the seven days to January 2, huge swathes of the Dorset area were either ‘hotspots’ or close to becoming one just before the current national lockdown. 

There were 2,407 cases of the coronavirus across the BCP area, giving a rate of 608.9.

Meanwhile, the wider Dorset area had 1,168 cases with a rate of 308.6.

Covid hotspots were

  • Bearwood; 45 cases, rate 818.9
  • Newtown; 88 cases, rate 806.7
  • Penn Hill; 82 cases, rate 816.5
  • Westbourne; 63 cases, rate 1,071.6
  • Iford; 64 cases, rate 848.5.

February 2021

Bournemouth Echo:

The latest weekly data up to February 27, shows a marked improvement in cases and rates with no 'hotspot' areas in the BCP area.  

Across the conurbation there were 249 cases giving a rate of 63.0. There was only one area with an MSOA rate above 200 which was Burton and Airport which had 15 cases and a rate of 249.0.

There was only one place of particular concern in the whole of Dorset in Underhill & The Grove area. 

Many areas of Dorset have reverted to showing in white on the map which means they have recorded fewer than three cases.