THE first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the Dorset Council area.

Before Friday, the three cases in the county were in the Bournemouth and Poole area.

No details have been released about where the patient is being treated.

Public Health England said it is following up the case tracing and advising contacts according to national guidance and protocol.

It was revealed on Saturday there is a further case in the Bournemouth and Poole area bringing the wider Dorset total to five.

Rachel Partridge Assistant Director of Public Health for Dorset and BCP Councils said: “I’d like to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains low and we are working with health colleagues to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading and ensure the people of Dorset are protected.”

A total of 798 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 9am on Friday, up from 590 at the same point on Thursday.

It comes as the threat of coronavirus starts to affect events, meetings and sporting fixtures in Dorset.

Organisers of various events are pulling the plug on activities while businesses are having to rethink how they work due to the threat of coronavirus, described as “the worst public health crisis for a generation”.

The Government announced the virus would spread further and would affect many more people over the coming months.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out measures that could “cause severe disruption for many months” as the Government moved to the delay phase of its four-part plan.

The Government said it would not move to close schools yet as the evidence for its effectiveness is lacking, though this will be kept under review.

The Football Association has announced the Premier League will be suspended until April 4. The London Marathon has also been postponed until October.

The postponement or continuation of lower football league games has been left to individual leagues to decide – locally Weymouth FC’s home game against Slough today in the Vanarama National League South has been given the go-ahead.

However, Dorchester Town’s games today and next weekend in the Southern Premier South have been called off.

Dorset County Museum said volunteering at all of its sites had been suspended, including off site premises where it has storage areas. A decision on the Pop-Up Museum tours it operates is under review. As reported a science fair due to be held in Dorchester tomorrow has been cancelled.

Poundbury Rotary Club said “in the interests of social responsibility” it had cancelled its Race Night planned for March 20 and the Bike Bayeux event in May due to the coronavirus.