NEARLY 600 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Dorset over the last 24 hours, latest figures show.

Data released by the government shows 598 cases were confirmed across the county in the 24 hours leading up to 4pm on Monday, January 4.

In the Dorset Council area, 269 cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 5,429.

In the seven days leading up to December 31, the latest rolling seven-day period, 873 cases were confirmed in Dorset, giving a rolling infection rate of 230.6 per 100,000 people.

The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area recorded 329 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 11,515.

The rolling rate stood at 448.5 with 1,773 cases confirmed in the last rolling seven-day period.

Seven coronavirus deaths and 1,100 cases in Dorset over the weekend.