THERE are two areas of Dorset which have not recorded any coronavirus clusters according to latest data.
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.
Burton Bradstock and Chideock, based in West Dorset, and Yetminster, Bradford Abbas and Longburton in North Dorset have both not reported a coronavirus cluster within both of these areas in recent days, according to data from Public Health England up to Tuesday, February 2.
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 up to the seven days to Tuesday, January 26, Burton Bradstock and Chideock reported no coronavirus clusters while Yetminster, Bradford Abbas and Longburton recorded seven positive tests.
There are a number of reasons why the areas have not seen a coronavirus cluster in recent days.
One major factor could be down to both locations being predominantly rural areas.
Burton Bradstock and Chideock covers a large area, which includes parishes and villages such as Eype, Melplash, Netherbury, Nettlecombe while Yetminster, Bradford Abbas and Longburton include the villages of Sandford Orcas, Nether Compton, Mudford, Holnest and Holwell.
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. West Dorset has reported low numbers of Covid-19 cases throughout the pandemic whereas North Dorset has reported varying levels of coronavirus cases.
Surrounding Burton Bradstock and Chideock, Bridport North has reported three cases, five people tested positive for Covid-19 in Bridport South and West Bay, Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Marshwood Vale recorded eight cases, Beaminster, Maiden Newton and Halstock recorded six coronavirus cases and seven people tested positive for Covid-19 in Chickerell and Chesil Bank.
Meanwhile, areas around Yetminster, Bradford Abbas and Longburton, which borders Somerset, has reported higher figures with Charlton Down, Cerne Abbas and Puddletown recording 19 cases, 17 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Milborne, Winterborne and Okeford Fitzpaine and areas in Yeovil reporting higher 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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