FOUR areas in Dorset have not recorded any coronavirus clusters, according to latest data.
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.
Beaminster, Maiden Newton & Halstock and Bridport North, based in West Dorset, and Overmoigne, Broadmayne & Winterbourne and Southwell & Weston in coastal Dorset, have all not reported a coronavirus cluster within these areas in recent days, according to data from Public Health England up to Tuesday, February 9.
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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.
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.
On the previous week up to the seven days to Tuesday, February 2, Beaminster, Maiden Newton & Halstock recorded six cases, Bridport North confirmed four cases while five people tested positive in Overmoigne, Broadmayne & Winterbourne and Southwell & Weston on Portland recorded nine cases.
Why these areas have all not seen a coronavirus cluster in recent days could be because these locations are predominantly rural areas.
For example, Overmoigne, Broadmayne & Winterbourne covers a large area of parishes and villages such as Winterbourne Abbas, Osmington, Poxwell, Crossways, while Beaminster, Maiden Newton & Halstock includes Mapperton, Evershot, Higher Kingcombe and Netherhay.
These areas cover large land and a number of parishes, meaning the spread of Covid-19 around these areas is less than in a more enclosed urban area. West Dorset has also reported low numbers of Covid-19 cases throughout the pandemic.
Surrounding areas in West Dorset, Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Marshwood Vale recorded eight cases, Bridport South & West Bay reported five cases, Burton Bradstock & Chideock recorded four coronavirus cases and seven people tested positive for Covid-19 in Charlton Down, Cerne Abbas & Puddletown.
Meanwhile, areas around Overmoigne, Broadmayne & Winterbourne, Bovington, Wool & Lulworth recorded seven cases, 17 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Preston & Lodmoor and Broadwey & Littlemoor saw nine cases.
Underhill & The Grove, the only other area on Portland, has recorded 52 cases, which is the highest in Dorset.
In comparison to wider Dorset, West Dorset area has largely reported low numbers of coronavirus cases.
Weymouth, Dorchester and North Dorset 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.
This is, however, decreasing, with a large number of areas across the county reporting a decline in coronavirus cases.
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