There has been a "rapid increase" in Covid-19 cases across Dorset over the past week.

Public Health Dorset reports there are 1,006 confirmed cases in the Dorset Council area, compared to 581 on July 16, and 2,113 in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council area, compared to 979 on July 16.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 of the population in the Dorset Council area is 265.8, compared to 153.4 on July 16, and 534.5 in the BCP Council area, compared to 247.6 on July 16.

There are currently 27 people with Covid-19 in hospital in Dorset.

A spokesman for Public Health Dorset said: "We have seen a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases across the county over the past week, particularly in the BCP Council area where the case rate has more than doubled in a week to 534.5 per 100,000. Dorset Council's case rate has risen from 153.4 to 265.8 in a week. The average rate for the South West is 513.5 and for England it is 529.1.

"Case rates are highest amongst younger people, but we are seeing cases increase across all age groups. The number of people in hospitals in Dorset with Covid-19 has increased from 17 to 27 over the past week, and we have started to see a small number of deaths related to Covid-19 in the county.

"The rise in cases locally and nationally is a reminder that we are still living with Covid-19, and despite restrictions being lifted we must keep doing all we can to prevent the spread of the virus.

"Make sure you get your second dose of the vaccine to get maximum protection, and keep doing regular rapid tests to check you aren't infectious. There were no changes to the requirement to self-isolate from July 19, so please continue to self-isolate if you have symptoms, test positive or are identified as a close contact."

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