A sharp jump in the number of coronavirus cases in Dorset has prompted Public Health Dorset to say that we need to continue to be vigilant to prevent the spread of Covid within our community.
For the week 28th September to 4th October there were 93 reported coronavirus cases in the Dorset Council area and of that number, six of the cases were in Swanage.
For the same week, there were 265 cases in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area, with 36 of them in central Bournemouth and 32 in the neighbouring area of East Cliff.
These figures do include a number of cases that were not included in the statistics until now, due to a national problem with a delay in reporting the figures.
“Significant increase in case numbers”
In its latest update on COVID-19 in Dorset, Public Health Dorset said:
“Over the last week we have seen a significant increase in case numbers and case rates across the Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council areas.
“Part of this is as a result of the national issue with a delay in cases being reported last week, which was identified over the weekend. These delays have also meant a change in how we are reporting as the most recent few days of data may continue to change.
“However, these delays do not account for all of the increase and we can see that cases are rising in both council areas, particularly in the BCP area.
“This increase is in line with the national picture and our local numbers and case rates are still much lower than some other areas of the country, but the trend is concerning and it is a reminder that we need to be vigilant.”
Number of confirmed new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Dorset Council area
28th September to 4th October – 93 cases
22nd to 28th September – 29 cases
16th to 22nd September – 18 cases
9th to 15th September – 17 cases
2nd to 9th September – 37 cases
Number of confirmed new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council area
28th September to 4th October – 265 cases
22nd to 28th September – 78 cases
16th to 22nd September – 48 cases
9th to 15th September – 38 cases
2nd to 9th September – 57 cases
66 coronavirus patients in hospital in south west of England
Across the south west of England, as of Thursday 8th October 2020, there were 66 coronavirus patients in hospital, with six of them on a ventilator. Of those 66 patients, seven were in hospitals in Dorset.
This compares to a week ago when in the south west of England on Thursday 1st October 2020 there were 34 coronavirus patients in hospital and two on a ventilator. Three of the patients were in Dorset hospitals.
This is still the lowest number in an English region. The highest number of COVID-19 patients in England is in the north west, where there were 1,098 people in hospital, with 117 on a ventilator, as of Thursday 8th October 2020.
“Limiting the spread of the virus”
Public Health Dorset added:
“We would like to thank everyone for their hard work so far in limiting the spread of the virus, but it is vital that we keep up the basic measures at all times – social distancing, handwashing and self-isolation – to prevent further increases in cases and tighter restrictions.”
