THERE are 30 areas of Dorset which are reporting coronavirus cases - but cases continue to fall across 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 28.
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.
In the seven days up to Sunday, March 28, Dorset reported 173 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, with dozens of areas reporting no active coronavirus cases.
The following areas in Dorset confirmed coronavirus cases over the last week. The areas where cases have increased are marked in bold.
- Boscombe East - Three cases (up 1 from the week before)
- Canford Heath West - Three cases (up 1)
- Central Bournemouth - Three cases (up 1)
- Child Okeford & Iwerne Minster - Three cases
- Creekmoor - Three cases (up 1)
- Dorchester West & Poundbury - Three cases (up 1)
- East Cliff - Three cases (up 1)
- East Southbourne & Hengistbury Head - Three cases (up 1)
- Ferndown West & Canford Bottom - Three cases (up 1)
- Queen's Park - Three cases (up 1)
- Rossmore - Three cases
- Springbourne & Queen's Park - Three cases
- Westham South - Three cases (up 1)
- West Verwood - Three cases (up 1)
- Weymouth Town, Melcombe Regis & Rodwell - Three cases (up 1)
- Weymouth West - Three cases (up 1)
- Yetminster, Bradford Abbas & Longburton - Three cases (up 1)
- Boscombe - Four cases (up 2)
- Charminster (BCP) - Four cases (up 2)
- Moordown - Four cases (up 2)
- Somerford - Four cases
- Southwell & Weston - Four cases
- West Cliff - Four cases
- Burton Bradstock & Chideock - Five cases (up 3)
- Sherborne - Five cases (up 3)
- Talbot & Branksome Woods - Five cases (up 2)
- Broadwey & Littlemoor - Six cases (up 4)
- Gillingham Outer, Bourton & Motcombe - Six cases (up 2)
- Underhill & The Grove - Eight cases
- Sturminster Newton & Stalbridge - 10 cases
The updated 'R rate' for the South West, including Dorset, has increased to between 0.7 - 1.0, which is below the latest R number range for the UK of 0.8 - 1.0.
The Government says an R-value between 0.7 and 1.0 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between seven and ten other people.
The current growth rate in the South West is set at -5 to 0. The size of the growth rate indicates the speed of change.
A growth rate of between -5 per cent and 0 per cent means that the number of new infections is shrinking by between zero and five per cent every day.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here