THE COVID case rate across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has fallen below the south west average for the first time since the latest lockdown was introduced.

Data released by local health authority Public Health Dorset, shows that in the seven days to March 6, the rate across the conurbation per 100,000 people was 32.1.

The average rate in the south west during the same period was 33.1.

The rate in the Dorset Council area was 33.3.

A Public Health Dorset spokesperson said: “We have seen COVID case rates, hospitalisations and deaths continue to decrease across the county over the last week. Case rates for Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council are both around the South West average and below the England average.

“We would like to thank residents for playing their part in this by following the lockdown rules.”

Both BCP and Dorset have rates under the England average which was 60.3.

In the previous week, BCP and Dorset recorded rates of 63.0 and 51.3 respectively.

Meanwhile, the number of cases fell from 249 to 127 in BCP and from 194 to 126 across wider Dorset.

According to the data, there are 33 patients with Covid being treated in Dorset hospitals compared to 68 the previous week.

On pupils returning to the classroom on Monday, March 8, Public Health Dorset said:  “This week we saw the return to school and college for all pupils in Dorset. Many school pupils, staff and their families are now taking part in lateral flow testing to identify and isolate any asymptomatic cases and their contacts to help break chains of transmission. We continue to work closely with schools to support them with this.”

Bournemouth Echo:

A graph on the Public Health Dorset website shows a sharp decline in case rates.

The week of January 8, the BCP area had a rate of 900.8 per 100,000 people.

On March 29, lockdown measures will be eased further with people allowed to meet another household or six people outdoors. Outdoor sports will also be able to take place.

Shops, hairdressers and gyms will reopen from April 12 with bars and restaurants able to provide outdoor service.

Public Health Dorset added: “The government has been clear that the roadmap for reopening will be based on data, so we must keep working together to prevent cases rising again in Dorset.”