According to Public Health Dorset cases have been rising across all age groups. However, with fewer people testing, these numbers are unlikely to provide the complete picture. The number of people in Dorset hospitals with Covid-19 rose slightly last week from 74 to 80.

Although the legal requirement to self-isolate has now ended, the public health advice remains the same – anyone who tests positive or has Covid symptoms should continue to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. This will help to protect other people who may be more vulnerable to the virus.

Ahead of the removal of free universal testing from 1 April, Public Health Dorset is reviewing how it shares data on the local situation. The format and frequency of this weekly update may change in the coming weeks to ensure that the data shared remains relevant and useful for understanding the level of risk from Covid-19 locally.