Covid case rates, hospitalisations and deaths across Dorset are now below the average for England, with Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) nearly equal.

Public Health Dorset reports there are 126 confirmed cases in the last seven days in the Dorset Council area, compared with 194 on March 5, and 127 in the BCP Council area, compared to 249 on March 5.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 of the population in the Dorset Council area is 33.3 compared to 51.3 on March 5, and 32.1 in the BCP Council area, compared to 63 on March 5.

There are currently 33 Covid-19 patients in hospital beds in Dorset, compared to 68 on March 5.

A spokesman for Public Health Dorset said: "We have seen Covid case rates, hospitalisations and deaths continue to decrease across the county over the last week. Case rates for Dorset Council and BCP Council are both around the South West average and below the England average.

"We would like to thank residents for playing their part in this by following the lockdown rules.

"This week we saw the return to school and college for all pupils in Dorset. Many school pupils, staff and their families are now taking part in lateral flow testing to identify and isolate any asymptomatic cases and their contacts to help break chains of transmission. We continue to work closely with schools to support them with this.

"The government has been clear that the roadmap for reopening will be based on data, so we must keep working together to prevent cases rising again in Dorset."