MORE than 500 cases of coronavirus were confirmed across Dorset in the last 24 hours.

Data released by the government shows 508 cases were recorded in the 24 hours leading up to 4.43pm on Monday, January 18.

In the BCP Council area, 343 cases were confirmed, taking the conurbation’s total since the start of the pandemic to 18,466.

The rolling infection rate in BCP stood at  839.8 cases per 100,000 people, with 3,320 cases confirmed in the seven days leading up to January 13, the latest rolling seven-day period.

In the Dorset Council area, 165 cases were confirmed, taking the total to 8,007.

The rolling rate was 302 per 100,000, with 1,143 cases confirmed in the seven days leading up to January 13.

Elsewhere, 73 cases were confirmed in the New Forest, meaning 4,551 people have tested positive there since the start of the pandemic.

The rate was 348.7 per 100,000 after 628 cases were confirmed in the latest seven-day rolling period.