Dorset Covid cases low but heading in wrong direction

The latest weekly coronavirus data from Public Health Dorset shows that cases have begun to rise across both the Dorset Council area and the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council area and the number in hospital with Covid-19 has increased as well.

The national restrictions in November did drive cases down across both council areas but now the downward trend in Dorset has levelled off and is starting to rise.

Advertisement 

In Swanage, in the last seven days to 13th December 2020, there were fewer than two confirmed cases, which is good news but considering the picture across the county, health officials are urging us to stick to the guidance to prevent coronavirus spreading and risking an increase in cases.

Covid poster

Public Health Dorset data 6th to 12th December 2020

Confirmed cases in last 7 days

  • Dorset: 174 (compared to 150 last week)
  • BCP: 340 (compared to 249 last week)
  • South West: 5,246
  • England: 116,283

7 day case rates per 100,000

  • Dorset: 46.0 (compared to 39.6 last week)
  • BCP: 86.0 (compared to 63.0 last week)
  • South West: 93.3
  • England: 206.6

Hospitals in Dorset

  • Current Covid-19 patients in hospital beds in Dorset: 98 (compared to 88 last week)

“Completely understand just how disappointed some people will be”

Responding to the latest data, the Director of Public Health Dorset, Sam Crowe said:

“That’s disappointing because as we came out of lockdown, we made huge progress in getting our infection rates down but unfortunately because they’ve started to rise, that’s one of the reasons why the government took the decision yesterday to keep both areas in Tier 2.

“I can completely understand just how disappointed some people will be that we remain in Tier 2 but looking at the public health data and the epidemiology, what we know is, that if we don’t have measures in place to limit social mixing, our infection rates are likely to rise.

“The other set of data that they’ll be looking at is the impact on our local health and care system and again the local hospital continues to be under pressure, so that was another factor in the decision.”

Christmas bubbles

With the Covid restrictions easing across England for Christmas from Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th December 2020, Sam Crowe urged everyone to follow the national guidance to keep safe:

“I think the chief medical officer (Chris Whitty) summed it up best when he said, please do your best to keep it small, keep it short and above all, keep it local.”

Watch the latest Covid update from Director of Public Health Dorset, Sam Crowe

Further information

  • Public Health Dorset’s latest data is available on its website
  • To find out the latest data for Swanage and any other part of the UK, there is now a postcode checker on the government’s website

Share this story

Contact us

Do you have anything to add to this story?

We like to keep everything up-to-date, so if you know more, please help us by getting in touch.

Advertisement 

Top stories

Swanage Railway confirms trial train service to Wareham and cost of fare Following long delays and false starts,, a trial rail service is to run between Swanage and the mainline at Wareham from April to September 2023. 3 weeks ago BBC Antiques Roadshow to come to Swanage 2 weeks ago Second home owners ‘unhappy’ over Dorset Council’s tax plan 1 month ago Swanage woman charged with attempted robbery at toy shop 2 weeks ago Long weekend of steam at Swanage Railway for spring gala 2 weeks ago

Most recent

Family of missing Wareham man informed after body found in river Dorset Police say that a body has been discovered in the river in Wareham and while not formally identified yet, the family of a man who’s been missing for several ... 9 hours ago First changing places toilet opens in Swanage 23 hours ago A day’s parking to cost £20.60 along Swanage seafront 2 days ago Swanage looks for hedgehog heroes to beat prickly problem 3 days ago Poole Harbour oil leak: Europe’s largest onshore oilfield ‘temporarily suspended’ 3 days ago