OVER 500 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Dorset in the past 24 hours, latest data from the government has revealed.

In the 24 hours leading up to 4.50pm on Tuesday, January 12, 570 new cases were recorded across the county.

The figures include 133 new cases of coronavirus in the Dorset Council area, with 1,228 recorded in the past week. In the latest seven day period the infection rate per 100,000 of the population now stands at 340.3.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Dorset Council area has had 6,896 Covid cases.

Meanwhile in the Bournemouth Christchurch Poole area there are 437 new cases, taking the area's total to 15,550.

In the latest seven day period 3,348 cases were reported in BCP, with an infection rate of 846.9 per 100,000 of the population.

This has taken the county's total since the beginning of the pandemic to 22,446.