AN area of Dorset that has not recorded a coronavirus cluster during the course of the pandemic has recently reported an outbreak of cases.

Public Health England breaks down the numbers of Covid-19 cases into neighbourhoods called 'Middle Super Output Areas' (MSOAs), which are smaller than council wards and based on population rather than geographical area.

The interactive map, which can be found online, allows users to type in their postcode and see how many cases were reported in their area and if it has increased or decreased from the week before.

Bridport South and West Bay, which has a mixture of rural and developed areas, covers the southern part of Bridport below East Road roundabout, as well as Bothenhamton and the coastal West Bay.

As previously reported, Public Health England had not reported a coronavirus cluster within this area since the pandemic began.

Government and Public Health England define a coronavirus cluster as an area where there are more than two coronavirus cases in a population size of 7,500 at any one time.

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Some areas are coloured white and described as "suppressed", meaning MSOA level rates are suppressed and there have been zero to two cases in a seven-day period. This also protects the privacy of individuals and prevent disclosure.

But this area has now reported five new cases of Covid-19, according to the latest available statistics up to Saturday, December 19.

Days before, the area had reported three cases, meaning there has been an increase of positive tests in the area.

Despite these fresh cases spoiling this streak of no coronavirus clusters in the area, it is still a remarkable feat for the West Dorset area.

Why the area has not seen a coronavirus cluster up until mid-December could be down to a number of reasons.

One reason is its small population - the 2011 census reported Bridport and West Bay has a population of more than 13,000, but not all of this would be included within the Bridport South and West Bay area. Bothenhampton meanwhile has a population of 2,131.

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Another major factor could be down to it being a predominantly rural area. The majority of the homes and build-up areas are within Bridport while there are far less properties and settlements in West Bay and Bothenhampton.

The neighbouring Burton Bradstock and Chideock, which covers rural areas of Burton Bradstock, Chideock, Bradpole, Symondsbury and Netherbury, has seen a low number of active cases during the pandemic, while Bridport North has also reported a small number of positive tests.

Latest available data reports Burton Bradstock and Chideock has three active cases while Bridport North has reported fewer than three cases within the seven days up until Saturday, December 19.

Bridport South and West Bay also contains the area’s mobile coronavirus testing site, which has seen residents from across Dorset carry out tests for Covid-19.

In comparison to wider Dorset, West Dorset area has largely reported low numbers of coronavirus cases.

Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester areas have reported varying levels of Covid-19 cases, while a large number of positive tests have been confirmed within the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas.