FEWER than 40 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Dorset over the last 24 hours.

The government’s daily update shows 34 cases were confirmed across the county in the 24 hours leading up to 4pm on Saturday.

The Dorset Council area recorded 12 new cases, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 11,337.

In the seven days leading up to February 28, the latest rolling seven-day period, 178 cases were confirmed, giving a rolling infection rate of 47 per 100,000 people.

The BCP Council area recorded 22 new cases, taking the total to 24,759.

The rolling rate stood at 57.4 per 100,000 with 227 cases confirmed in a week.