Coronavirus cases start to rise in Dorset this week.

Public Health Dorset reports that there are 1,235 confirmed cases in the last seven days in the Dorset Council area, compared to 963 on September 24, and 857 in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council area, compared to 978 on September 24.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 of the population in the Dorset Council area is 325.2, compared to 253.6 on September 24, and 215.9 in the BCP Council area, compared to 227 on September 24.

There are currently 29 people with Covide-19 in Dorset hospital beds, compared to 26 on September 24.

According to the coronavirus interactive map, there are 38 cases in Dorchester East, 46 in Dorchester West and Poundbury, 46 in the Charlton Down, Cerne Abbas and Puddletown area and 27 in the Owermoigne, Broadmayne and Winterbourne area.

A spokesman for Public Health Dorset said: "We are continuing to see a decline in cases in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole this week. However, cases in Dorset have risen this week. For Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, the case rates are below the South West average, for Dorset, the case rates are above the South West average. The local case rates remain below the England average in both council areas.

"The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital have also slightly risen this week.

"With Covid-19 continuing to circulate in our communities, and cases increasing in Dorset, it's really important that anyone with symptoms gets tested and self-isolates whilst they wait for the result. Regular rapid testing when you haven't got symptoms is also key to stopping the spread as you can check you're not infectious and potentially passing the virus on to others. Anyone who hasn't yet had their first or second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine can still book an appointment to get their jab."

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