CORONAVIRUS case numbers in the BCP Covid-19 ‘hotspot’ with the highest rate have continued to increase.

Nineteen areas in BCP have a rolling seven-day rate higher than the UK average of 519.3.

A total of 40 areas across the conurbation, East Dorset and Purbeck have a rate between 400 and 799.

According to an interactive map on the Government’s coronavirus data website, Westbourne’s rolling infection rate in the seven days to December 31 was 969.6 cases per 100,000 people, with 57 cases recorded.

This compared to a rate of 289.2 for the seven days up to December 24. Therefore, the cases recorded have increased by 235.3 per cent on the previous week.

As previously reported, in the seven days up to December 30, the Westbourne case rate was 850.5.

The other area in the conurbation with a case rate of more than 800 is in the neighbouring West Cliff ward, where the rate in the seven days to December 31 was 819.8 and 65 cases were recorded.

This was up 80 per cent on the previous week although the rate has fallen from the figure recorded in the seven days up to December 30, when it was 845.

The map, which can be viewed here, uses data from Public Health England to show potential virus "hotspots" in the country.

It is divided into Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs), which are areas with an average population of 7,200.

The map colour-codes MSOAs depending on their seven-day rolling rate, with areas placed into the boundaries of 0-10, 11-50, 51-100, 101-200, 201-400, 400 to 799 and 800 plus.

Places with a high MSOA rate appear on the map in purple (400 to 799) or dark purple (800 plus).

They are:

  • Iford – 55 cases, rate 729.2
  • Somerford – 43 cases, rate 675.1
  • Broadstone – 68 cases, rate 668.6
  • Charminster – 51 cases, rate 636.9
  • Springbourne & Queen's Park – 58 cases, rate 628.4
  • Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & Sandbanks – 56 cases, rate 625.3
  • Bearwood – 33 cases, rate 600.5
  • Creekmoor – 55 cases, rate 601
  • Hamworthy West – 42 cases, rate 587.6
  • Central Bournemouth – 76 cases, rate 585.1
  • Newtown – 63 cases, rate 577.6
  • Penn Hill – 58 cases, rate 577.5
  • Branksome East – 36 cases, rate 573.7
  • Oakdale East – 52 cases, rate 573.4
  • Queens Park – 49 cases, rate 565.4
  • Upton & Lytchett Minster – 49 cases, rate 563.2
  • East Cliff – 72 cases, rate 559.7
  • Northbourne – 44 cases, rate 551.4
  • Boscombe West – 58 cases, rate 544.8
  • Southbourne West – 47 cases, rate 543.1
  • West Moors – 40 cases, rate 524.7
  • Oakdale West – 42 cases, rate 504.3
  • Townsend & Strouden – 33 cases, rate 503
  • Winton – 48 cases, rate 502.6
  • Mudeford – 32 cases, rate 498.8
  • East Verwood – 37 cases, rate 498.2
  • Canford Heath East – 36 cases, rate 487.2
  • East Southbourne & Hengistbury Head – 40 cases, rate 483.7
  • Talbot & Branksome Woods – 33 cases, rate 474.4
  • Christchurch Town – 45 cases, rate 464.7
  • Hamworthy East – 30 cases, rate 464
  • Merley – 28 cases, rate 454.1
  • Branksome West – 34 cases, rate 450.3
  • Parley & Hampreston – 42 cases, rate 435.6
  • Wimborne Minster – 33 cases, rate 430.1
  • Rossmore – 44 cases, rate 429.9
  • Boscombe East – 40 cases, rate 424.4
  • Moordown – 34 cases, rate 420
  • Parkstone – 39 cases, rate 407.1
  • West Verwood – 31 cases, rate 402.1