FEWER than 40 coronavirus cases were confirmed across Dorset in the last 24 hours.

Data released by the government showed 35 cases were confirmed across the county in the 24 hours leading up to 4pm on Monday.

The BCP Council recorded 19 new cases, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 24,803.

In the seven days leading up to March 3, the latest rolling seven-day period, 166 cases were confirmed, giving a rolling infection rate of 42 per 100,000.

The Dorset Council area recorded 16 new cases, taking the total to 11,391.

The rolling infection rate stood at 30.1 per 100,000, with 114 cases confirmed in a week.

Elsewhere, six cases were confirmed in the New Forest, taking the total to 5,958.

The rolling rate stood at 31.7 per 100,000 with 57 cases confirmed in the lead up to March 3.