FOUR more people have tested positive for Coronavirus in Dorset.

The four positive tests were recorded over the last 24 hours in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole Council area, official figures show.

There were none in the Dorset Council area.

Public Health England figures show that 987 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday in the BCP area, up from 983 the same time on Thursday.

A total 707 people had been confirmed as testing positive in the Dorset Council area, in line with the same time on Thursday.

The rate of infection in Dorset stands at 187 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 555.

The rate in the BCP area is 250.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 3,539 over the period, to 361,677.

Dorset's cases were among the 15,630 recorded across the South West, a figure which rose by 117 over the period.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.

The health body is now including Pillar 2 tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar 1 tests, which are analysed in NHS or PHE laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.