Graphic shows how Covid-19 cases have surged and fallen in Dorset

An interactive map, which uses Public Health England data, shows how many people have tested positive for the virus in each area of the county.

Public Health England breaks down the numbers of coronavirus 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 through this link, 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. The darker the colour on the image, the more positive test results have been recorded.

The map highlights which areas of the county have three or more confirmed cases of the virus and colour co-coordinates the areas by how many cases they have.

View below - gif shows how cases in Dorset areas have changed between November 2020 and May 2021

Using the map’s data between November 17, 2020 until May 11, 2021, we can see how coronavirus cases decreased due to the second lockdown, surged following Christmas and New Year period, and a third national lockdown’s effect on reducing infections around Dorset.

Coronavirus cases in both Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council areas started to fall in November, with the effects of the second national lockdown curbing the spread of coronavirus.

In fact, coronavirus cases across Dorset nearly halved between November 17 and December 8.

But due to the emergence of the Kent variant, a more transmissible strain of coronavirus, caused a surge in coronavirus cases across the country and Dorset experienced an increase in cases.  

Before Christmas, 1,259 active Covid-19 cases were reported across Dorset on the seven days up to December 22, 2020.

Coronavirus cases continued to rise, the five-day Christmas bubble was scrapped and social mixing was reduced to just Christmas Day and both Dorset Council and BCP Council areas were moved into Tier 3 restrictions in late-December.

The peak of the second Covid-19 wave in Dorset as shown on January 5, 2021. Picture: Public Health England

In the New Year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson placed England into its third national lockdown on January 5. Every area of Dorset had at least five Covid-19 cases in the seven days up to January 5 and there were 4,459 people reported with coronavirus.

Dorset Council reported that on the seven days to January 5, there were 1,343 cases while on the seven days to January 12, BCP Council reported 3,374 active cases.

From here, case numbers remained high but started to gradually fall. Every area of Dorset reported at least three Covid-19 cases in the seven days up to January 19, the last time this happened.

Despite the drop in coronavirus cases across Dorset, Covid-19 hotspots emerged. Child Okeford and Iwerne Minster in North Dorset reported 73 cases in the seven days up to January 26, Underhill and The Grove reported two spikes in cases in February.

Just five areas of Dorset have reported coronavirus cases according to the latest Public Health England data

By the time of the first step of the lockdown roadmap on March 8, 251 cases had been reported in the seven days up to March 9. When the rule of six was reinstated on March 9, both council areas reported under 100 active Covid-19 cases – 79 people were infected in Dorset Council area while BCP area reported 88 cases.

The number of coronavirus cases has continued to fall with the lifting of restrictions. As well as this, there were more areas reporting fewer than three active Covid-19 cases than there were of areas reporting more than three coronavirus cases.

Ahead of the easing of restrictions on Monday, May 17, only five areas in Dorset reported more than three coronavirus cases. No areas in Dorset Council area reported more then three cases, but 29 cases were reported across this location.

• Got a story to share or for me to investigate? Email me at michael.taylor@newsquest.co.uk