Covid cases are rising quickly across Dorset, more than doubling in a week in the Dorset Council area.

Public Health Dorset reports there are 3,268 confirmed cases in the last seven days in the Dorset Council area, compared to 1,615 on March 11, and 3,045 in the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch (BCP) Council area, compared to 1,781 on March 11.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 is 860.5 in the Dorset Council area, compared to 425.5 on March 11, and 767.0 in the BCP Council area, compared to 448.6 on March 11.

There are currently 131 people in Dorset hospital beds with Covid-19, compared to 80 on March 11.

A spokesman for Public Health Dorset said: "Covid-19 cases across Dorset are now rising quickly again. The data only includes cases confirmed by PCR and reported positive lateral flow tests, and with fewer people now testing, it's likely that the true figures are higher.

"Prevalence in the community is very high and there is an increased risk that you could catch Covid-19. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals across Dorset has also risen from 80 to 131 in the past week.

"Although the legal requirement to self-isolate has been removed, everyone should take responsibility to do the right thing to protect others and reduce pressure on services. You should continue to stay at home if you feel unwell or have a positive test result. Don't go in to work or education and avoid contact with others until you feel better.

"If you go out whilst you have Covid-19 or another infectious illness, you can easily spread it to other people. This puts people who are more vulnerable at risk from serious illness, and can put essential services under significant pressure when outbreaks occur in those settings."

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