Covid: what's happened in Dorset since we were placed in Tier 2?

Today the first review of the coronavirus tier system will take place and Dorset will find out if it will remain under Tier 2 restrictions or be moved into a lower tier.

We'll be bringing you live coverage of the tier review and what it means for Dorset today. 

Here we look over what’s happened in Dorset over the last few weeks.

Why was Dorset placed in Tier 2?

A summary for the decision to place Dorset in Tier 2, which was posted online by the government, said: "Case rates are falling across the area (131 per 100,000 in all cases and 99 per 100,000 in the over 60s). However the over 60 case rate is still high at 151 per 100,000 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

"Positivity is 5.2 per cent. In addition, the Dorset STP reports daily admissions to hospitals are increasing."

• Why the government says it has put all of Dorset in Tier 2 Covid restrictions

In an open letter explaining why the new measures were coming into force after the lockdown, Public Health Dorset said: “If we exited lockdown at our current infection rates, then Tier 1 restrictions would not be enough to continue to bring rates down, and we would risk having to go back into tougher measures. Avoiding this potential yo-yo situation is a more sensible course of action, although we appreciate the difficulties that the restrictions are bringing for us all.

“Several factors are considered when looking at the tier system, it’s not just about our headline infection rates. The government also looks at the infection rate in older people, the impact on our care sector, and pressure on our local hospitals - all of which continue to be a concern in both council areas. Taking into account all of these measures, it is our view that Dorset Council would still be placed into Tier 2 restrictions, even discounting the higher rates in the BCP Council area.”

Picture: Stephen Bath

What has Tier 2 meant for residents?

The whole of Dorset – both the BCP Council and Dorset Council areas - have been living under Tier 2 (High Alert) restrictions. Households have been unable to mix indoors and the rule of six applies outdoors. Pubs and bars also had to close, unless operating as restaurants.

• What is Tier 2? Here are all the restrictions in place 

What’s happened to Dorset’s cases and infection rates recently?

Latest figures published by Public Health Dorset on Friday, show 249 cases were confirmed in the BCP area between November 29 and December 5, compared to 339 the previous week.

In Dorset, 150 cases were recorded during the same period, down from 167 the previous seven days.

The rate per 100,000 people for the BCP area is now 63.0 and in Dorset it is 39.6. These were 85.8 and 44.1 respectively the previous week.

There have been no coronavirus 'hotspots' in the BCP area since the week ending November 19, according to a map on the government website.

The latest rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19, show Dorset is ranked the seventh lowest of every council area in England.

In terms of hospitals, 88 patients were in beds across Dorset compared to 127 the previous week.

A total of 300 people have died with the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.

What has Public Health Dorset said?

Sam Crowe, Dorset and BCP Councils director of public health, said if a move out of Tier 2 is made too soon coronavirus cases will rise "quickly again" and the county will be "forced back into more drastic measures".

Mr Crowe said: “Locally, we have seen the reduction in case rates level off and plateau in recent days and our hospital system remains under pressure. In terms of case rates, we are now at a similar level as at the end of September and early October, when we had seen cases start to increase rapidly.

“We do need to take a cautious approach in changing restrictions; if we leave Tier 2 too soon, we could see cases start to increase quickly again and be forced back into more drastic measures. Covid-19 is very much still with us so we must not become complacent.”

• Read more: Warning that early Dorset Covid tier move could lead to 'more drastic measures'

What have Dorset’s MPs said?

There have been calls from the county's MPs for the BCP and Dorset Council areas to be moved from the current position in Tier 2 measures to looser Tier 1 restrictions.

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns 

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns said the situation in relation to Covid-19 had “vastly-improved” across Dorset in terms of case numbers and hospital bed occupancy.

Poole MP Sir Robert Syms said based on coronavirus infection rates and hospitalisations, Dorset should be in Tier 1 and it should have been the case following the second national lockdown at the start of December.

Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East, backed calls for Bournemouth to be moved from Tier 2 of the restrictions into the less strict Tier 1.

But earlier this week, he also warned that relaxing the rules too far at Christmas could lead to a third wave of Covid-19 in the new year. 

Meanwhile, Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope said there was “scepticism and low expectations” over whether the drop in Tier would be delivered.

• Read more: "Covid-19 will not be taking a break over Christmas”: warning from Dorset health officials

What's happening with the Covid vaccine?

Six GP surgeries across Dorset have started to vaccinate patients against coronavirus.

Stour Surgery in Barrack Road, Christchurch and the Talbot Medical Centre in Kinson Road, Bournemouth are among those taking part.

Heatherview Medical Centre in Poole, St Leonards Hospital, the Weymouth Community Hospital and Bridport Medical Centre are also involved.

• Read more: The six Dorset GP surgeries to start coronavirus vaccinations

How is it decided which tier areas are placed in?

The Government's winter plan sets out five criteria used nationally to determine tiers for local areas:

• Case detection rates in all age groups
• Case detection rates in the over 60s
• The rate at which cases are rising or falling
• Positivity rate
• Pressure on the NHS.

Any decision on whether an area will move to a different tier is taken by national government.

What happens in the future?

Tiers across England are set to be reviewed every two weeks - with the next review scheduled for December 28.

After the fourth review on January 27, the tier restrictions will be brought to Parliament again.

At the end of November, Boris Johnson said the tier system could end in February.