MORE than 130 people are currently in Dorset hospitals with Covid, the local public health authority has said.

Public Health Dorset said a total of 131 patients are in hospitals with Covid in its latest update on Monday, July 25.

A spokesperson for Public Health Dorset said: “There are currently 131 people in hospitals in Dorset with COVID-19. With high incidence in the community, we know that some of these people are likely to be primarily in hospital for another reason.”

In a previous update on July 12, 127 people were in hospital with the virus.

In terms of infections in the wider community, a total of 4.1 per cent of people had tested positive in the seven days to June 30 which is the most recent data provided. 

In the rest of Dorset, 3.6 per cent of the people had Covid during the same period.

Public Health Dorset said most of the people who had tested positive in the seven days to July 13, were school pupils and those aged over 50.

A spokesperson said: “In the week ending 13 July 2022, the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in England continued to increase for those in school Year 7 to school Year 11, aged 50 to 69 years and aged 70 years and over.”