COVID cases are rising “quickly” across the BCP Council area with infection rates at “very high levels”, the local public health authority has said.

Public Health Dorset has warned NHS services are under “huge pressure” with staff absences rising as infections increase.

In a post on social media, Public Health Dorset said: “Covid-19 cases have been rising quickly, with infection rates at very high levels again across Dorset Council and BCP Council.

“Many NHS and other essential services are under huge pressure with staff absences due to COVID rising.”

Read more: Dorset hospitals facing highest number of Covid patients this year

In a bid to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, Dorset residents have been urged to stay at home if they feel unwell or test positive for Covid.

Other advice includes meeting others outdoors and letting in fresh air when meeting indoors, wearing a face covering in crowded or enclosed spaces and getting all doses of the Covid vaccine.

According to latest government data, 4,470 new infections have been confirmed across the BCP Council area in the last seven days with a total of 121,813 cases recorded across the conurbation since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, in Dorset, 5,165 people have tested positive for Covid in the last seven days bringing the total number of infections since March 2020 to 93,610.

As previously reported, data from the Office for National Statistics showed one in 20 people across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and the wider Dorset area had tested positive for Covid in the seven days to March 12.