ANOTHER nine people have tested positive for coronavirus across Dorset.

The latest figures published on the government website show seven more confirmed cases in the BCP Council area in the 24 hours up to 4pm on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic is now 1,113.

The rate per 100,000 of the population is 281.5.

In the Dorset Council area, two cases have been confirmed meaning the total number of people who have tested positive overall is 748.

The rate per 100,000 people is 197.6. Elsewhere, the New Forest has five more cases of coronavirus.

In total, 582 people have tested positive for the virus with a rate of 323.2.

NHS officials said a further 23 people who tested positive for Covid 19 had died in England.

The total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England is 29,808.

Patients were aged between 69 and 96 years old and all had known underlying health conditions.

None of the deaths occurred in hospitals in the south west.