ONLY two areas in Dorset have reported no coronavirus clusters according to latest statistics – as Public Health Dorset warn of a ‘significant increase’ in positive tests.

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.

In the seven days up until Wednesday, December 23, Underhill and The Grove in Portland and Milborne, Winterborne and Okeford Fitzpaine in North Dorset are the only two areas in the county which have reported little to none Covid-19 cases.

These areas on the map 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.

Dorset Echo:

Government and Public Health England define a coronavirus cluster as an area where there are more than two Covid-19 cases in a population size of 7,500 at any one time.

According to latest data, Underhill and The Grove, which covers the northern part of Portland, has reported relatively low Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, with as high as three active cases reported on Wednesday, December 16.

Milborne, Winterborne and Okeford Fitzpaine, which covers a number of rural Dorset parishes and villages, has meanwhile reported a steady decline of cases over the last two weeks, with seven active cases reported on Wednesday, December 9.

In areas surrounding Milborne, Winterborne and Okeford Fitzpaine, there appears to be high numbers of positive coronavirus tests with 18 cases reported in the neighbouring Charlton Down, Cerne Abbas and Puddletown area.

Dorset Echo:

Looking across the map, cases in areas around Dorset have increased as both Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council areas report a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Latest data shows 455 people tested positive for coronavirus across the Dorset Council area between December 17 and 23. In the wider BCP Council area, 865 new cases have been confirmed in the same time period.

Dorset's coronavirus infection rate has soared to 118 per 100,000 people – but it has almost trebled in recent weeks from a rate of around 40 per 100,000. The case rate for Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole is 215 per 100,00 people.

Public Health Dorset said the county has seen a “significant increase” in case numbers and rates along with a rise in hospital admissions.

Dorset Echo:

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The Government was today formally reviewing Tiers for each local authority with an announcement of changes due in the coming days.