The grim milestone was reached over the weekend.

The number of people to have died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area now stands at 642.

There have been 366 such deaths in the Dorset Council area with a further 219 in the New Forest.

The rate of infection in the area remains relatively high but the vaccination programme is being rolled out as quickly as possible.

Social care minister Helen Whately said yesterday that the coronavirus vaccine has been offered to every care home in England where it was possible for teams to go in.

And she added: "Any care home that hasn’t been contacted, just let me know and I will personally follow up. I can be contacted on my ministerial email address."

Ms Whately said they are continuing to work through the social care workforce.

"We are determined by February 15 to have offered the vaccine to all the social care workforce" she said.

The population is being vaccinated according to strict criteria with residents and staff in care homes for older adults, over 80s and frontline health and social care workers at the top of the list.

Most people within those groups have now received the jabs with many surgeries and vaccination centres now moving on to people aged 75 and over.

These will be followed by over 70s and people classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.

After that the programme will continue with over 65s, adults aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group, over 60s, over 55s and over 50s.

The government hopes all of those groups will be vaccinated by the end of April and will then be followed by the rest of the adult population.