TWO areas of Dorset have not recorded any coronavirus clusters in recent days as cases appear to decrease across the county.
Public Health England breaks down the numbers of Covid-19 cases into neighbourhoods called 'Middle Super Output Areas' (MSOAs), which are smaller than council wards and based on population rather than geographical area.
The interactive map, which can be found online, allows users to type in their postcode and see how many cases were reported in their area and if it has increased or decreased from the week before.
Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Marshwood Vale and Burton Bradstock and Chideock are both coastal areas located in West Dorset.
According to data up to Tuesday, January 26, Public Health England has not reported a coronavirus cluster within both of these areas in recent days.
Government and Public Health England define a coronavirus cluster as an area where there are more than two coronavirus cases in a population size of 7,500 at any one time.
Some areas are coloured white and described as "suppressed", meaning MSOA level rates are suppressed and there have been zero to two cases in a seven-day period. This also protects the privacy of individuals and prevent disclosure.
On the previous week on Tuesday, January 19, Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Marshwood Vale area had recorded 13 cases while Burton Bradstock and Chideock had five active Covid-19 cases, which shows the number of positive tests in both areas have fallen.
Why the areas have not seen a coronavirus cluster in recent days could be down to a number of reasons.
One major factor could be down to both locations being predominantly rural areas.
Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Marshwood Vale area also covers a number of parishes including Fishpond Bottom, Duckpool, Marshalsea, Monkton Wyld while Burton Bradstock and Chideock covers a larger area, which includes parishes and villages such as Eype, Melplash, Netherbury, Nettlecombe.
Both areas cover large land and a number of parishes, meaning the spread of Covid-19 around these areas is less than in a more enclosed urban area. This also explains how West Dorset has reported low numbers of Covid-19 cases throughout the pandemic.
The neighbouring Bridport North and Bridport South and West Bay have also reported a small number of positive tests following a recent rise in cases in late December 2020 and January.
Latest available data reports both Bridport North and Bridport South and West Bay have recorded three cases within the seven days up until Tuesday, January 26 and these areas are experiencing a decrease in new fresh cases.
As well as this, Beaminster, Maiden Newton and Halstock has reported five positive tests while Chickerell and Chesil Bank has recorded nine new cases.
In comparison to wider Dorset, West Dorset area has largely reported low numbers of coronavirus cases.
Weymouth, Dorchester and North Dorset areas have reported varying levels of Covid-19 cases while a large number of positive tests have been confirmed within the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas.
This is, however, decreasing, with a large number of areas across the county reporting a decline in coronavirus cases.
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