A TOTAL of 74 people have tested positive for coronavirus across Dorset after the latest figures saw a further increase in Covid-19 cases.

According to the latest data published on the Government's website, 25 new cases have been reported in the Dorset Council area.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been an overall total of 1,289 cases in the area with an infection rate of 340.5 per 100,000.

49 positive results were recorded in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council area up to 4pm on Monday, October 19.

It means that the number of people who have now tested positive for Covid-19 in the local authority since the start of the pandemic is 2,383. The rate per 100,000 people is 602.8.

Overall, there have now been 3,672 reported cases of coronavirus across Dorset. 

Two more deaths from coronavirus have been recorded at Poole Hospital in the last 24 hours, according to NHS England. 

The Government said that, as of 9am on Monday, there had been a further 18,804 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 741,212.

The Government also said a further 80 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, as of Monday. This brings the UK total to 43,726.