THERE are 34 areas of Dorset with active coronavirus cases as the spread of the virus continues to fall in the county.  

An interactive map, which uses Public Health England data, shows how many people have tested positive for the virus in each area of the county over the seven-day period up to Sunday, March 7. 

Public Health England breaks down the numbers of coronavirus 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 through this link, 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. The darker the colour on the image, the more positive test results have been recorded.

The map highlights which areas of the county have three or more confirmed cases of the virus and colour co-coordinates the areas by how many cases they have.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News: There are varying levels of coronavirus cases across Dorset. Picture: Public Health DorsetThere are varying levels of coronavirus cases across Dorset. Picture: Public Health Dorset

In the seven days up to Sunday, March 7, Dorset reported 258 cases. The case rate compared to the UK average is below the national average.

A majority of areas in Dorset have reported either slight or large decreases of new coronavirus cases.

Note: This article includes the most recent data available at the time of publication.

The following 34 areas in Dorset confirmed the cases in the last week. The areas where cases have risen are marked bold. 

  • Blandford Forum Town - Three cases
  • Boscombe East - Three cases 
  • Chickerell & Chesil Bank - Three cases 
  • Ferndown Town - Three cases 
  • Highcliffe & Walkford - Three cases 
  • Littledown - Three cases 
  • Preston & Lodmoor - Three cases  
  • Queens Park - Three cases 
  • Rossmore - Three cases  
  • Southbourne West - Three cases 
  • West Cliff - Three cases 
  • Yetminster, Bradford Abbas & Longburton - Three cases 
  • Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & Sandbanks - Four cases 
  • Creekmoor - Four cases 
  • Gillingham Outer, Bourton & Motcombe - Four cases 
  • Oakdale East - Four cases 
  • Oakdale West - Four cases 
  • Penn Hill - Four cases 
  • St Leonards - Four cases 
  • Sturminster Newton & Stalbridge - Four cases 
  • Broadwey & Littlemoor - Five cases 
  • Charminster - Five cases 
  • Swanage - Five cases 
  • Upton & Lytchett Minster - Five cases 
  • Boscombe West - Six cases 
  • Central Bournemouth - Six cases
  • Dorchester West & Poundbury - Six cases 
  • East Cliff - Six cases 
  • Poole Town - Six cases 
  • Springbourne & Queen's Park - Six cases 
  • East Howe & Ensbury Park - Eight cases
  • Newtown - Nine cases 
  • Southwell & Weston - 17 cases 
  • Underhill & The Grove - 36 cases

The updated 'R rate' for the South West, including Dorset, has decreased to between 0.5 - 0.8, which is below the latest R number range for the UK of 0.6 - 0.8.

The Government says an R-value between 0.5 and 0.8 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between five and eight other people.

Read more - Preschool shuts following coronavirus outbreak 

The current growth rate in the South West is set at -8 to -5. The size of the growth rate indicates the speed of change.

A growth rate of between -10 per cent and -6  per cent means that the number of new infections is shrinking by between six and 10 per cent every day.