The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Dorset increased by 39 over the last 24 hours.

There were nine new cases in the Dorset Council area and 30 in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole Council (BCP) area.

Public Health England figures show that 798 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday in the Dorset Council area, up from 789 the same time on Thursday.

Meanwhile, 1,262 people tested positive in the BCP area, up from 1,232.

The rate of infection in Dorset now stands at 211 cases per 100,000 people and 319 in the BCP area, far lower than the England average of 708.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 6,968 over the period, to 467,146.

Dorset's cases were among the 18,246 recorded across the South West, a figure which rose by 193 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.