THE current Covid-19 case rate for the BCP Council area is one of the lowest in the whole of the United Kingdom.

Data released online by the Government reports that the latest seven-day rolling rate of positive tests per 100,000 for the conurbation is 16.7.

The number of coronavirus cases recorded in the area each day has tumbled throughout late-January, February and March.

Out of 380 local authority areas in the UK, BCP's current rolling rate is the 28th lowest.

Areas with rates lower than BCP include the Orkney and Shetland Islands, as well as remote areas of Scotland and Wales.

Dorset Council's current rate is 27.5 cases per 100,000 people - the 102nd lowest out of the 380 areas.

The south west average rate is 28.9, while the England average rate is 54.2.

The rates are for the seven days up to March 27 as the data for cases in the most recent five days is incomplete.

The 30 UK areas with the lowest Covid case rates are as follows:

(Listed in the format local authority, cases recored in seven days to March 27, case rate per 100,000 people in the seven days to March 27)

  1. Orkney Islands, 0, 0
  2. Ceredigion, 3, 4.1
  3. Argyll and Bute, 4, 4.7
  4. Hastings, 7, 7.6
  5. Cotswold, 7, 7.8
  6. North Devon, 8, 8.2
  7. Shetland Islands, 2, 8.7
  8. Rother, 10, 10.4
  9. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, 3, 11.2
  10. Teignbridge, 15, 11.2
  11. Scottish Borders, 13, 11.3
  12. Highland, 27, 11.4
  13. Tewkesbury, 11, 11.6
  14. West Devon, 7, 12.5
  15. Brentwood, 10, 13
  16. Powys, 18, 13.6
  17. Gloucester, 18, 13.9
  18. Great Yarmouth, 14, 14.1
  19. South Lakeland, 15, 14.3
  20. Torridge, 10, 14.6
  21. Adur, 10, 15.6
  22. Bridgend, 23, 15.6
  23. Mole Valley, 14, 16
  24. Torbay, 22, 16.1
  25. Wealden, 26, 16.1
  26. Babergh, 15, 16.3
  27. Sevenoaks, 20, 16.6
  28. BCP, 66, 16.7
  29. Gravesham, 18, 16.8
  30. Eden, 9, 16.9