MORE than 70 people in Dorset have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours, according to latest figures.

Data released by the Government show 71 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the 24 hours leading up to 4pm on Friday, December 4.

In the Dorset Council area, 23 people have tested positive. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 3,292 cases.

48 tested positive in the BCP Council area, taking the area's total since the start of the pandemic to 7,353.

The latest figures are an increase of 39 on the cases reported on Thursday, December 3, after 32 cases were recorded in Dorset.

It comes as Dorset County Hospital (DCH) has been confirmed as one of the 53 NHS sites chosen by the government to receive the Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine as the rollout begins next week - making the UK the first western country to approve a vaccine.

Leading hospitals will be designated as vaccine hubs to start immunising frontline NHS staff and patients. Hub hospitals will be responsible for vaccinating their own staff and ensuring neighbouring hospitals can get the jab to their own staff.