Covid-19 case rates continue to fall across Dorset, but they are still above the South West average.

Public Health Dorset reports there are 294 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Dorset Council area, compared to 349 on February 19, and 451 in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council area compared to 629 on February 19.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 of the population in the Dorset Council area is 77.7, compared with 92.2 on February 19, and 114.1 in the BCP Council area, compared to159.1 on February 19.

There are currently 147 Covid-19 patients in hospital beds in Dorset, compared to 194 on February 19.

A spokesman for Public Health Dorset said: "Case rates across the county have continued to fall during the lockdown. BCP Council's case rate - 114.1 per 100,000 - is now just below the England average of 118.3. However, both BCP and Dorset Council - 77.7 - case rates remain above the average for the South West - 70.2.

"This means we all need to keep working together to bring these rates down further.

"In line with the reduction in case rates, Covid-related hospitalisations and deaths across the county have also decreased.

"Over a quarter of a million people in Dorset have now received a Covid-19 vaccine. This is great news and we'd like to thank everyone involved in the rollout of the vaccination programme. However, we must remain vigilant and continue to follow the rules - even if you've had the vaccine - to avoid an increase in cases.

"This week the Government announced the roadmap for lifting lockdown. This is a four-step plan for the easing of restrictions to be lifted. The Government will use four tests to assess whether each step of the plan can go ahead:

1. The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
2. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
4. The assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern

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