THE coronavirus situation has changed significantly across Dorset over the past four weeks.

Here’s a look back at how the number of cases and case rates have changed as the county went from Tier 2 restrictions to a national lockdown.

December 12 to 19

The county was still in Tier 2 measures at this point with restaurants and bars still open with customers able to sit inside with their own household. The ‘rule of six’ applied in all outdoor settings.

In the seven days to December 19, the 615 new cases were reported across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The rolling rate per 100,000 people was 155.6.

In Dorset, 329 cases were reported with a rate of 86.9.

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).

At the time, Dorset had a few areas with case rates between 200 and 399 but there were no ‘hotspot’ areas. 

Chickerell & Chesil Bank, Southwell & Weston, Underhill & The Grove, Wyke Regis, Westham South, Weymouth West, Broadwey & Littlemoor, Overmoigne, Broadmayne & Winterbourne, Milborne, Winterborne & Okeford Fitzpaine and Littledown all had fewer than three cases.

December 19 to 26

Just days before BCP and Dorset was moved into Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, the county had seen a worrying rise in cases.

There were two Covid 'hotspot areas' which were West Cliff and Broadstone.

West Cliff recorded 48 cases and a rate of 605.4, while Broadstone had 45 cases and a rate of 442.5.

A number of areas across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole saw their MSOA rates change with many more locations appearing in dark blue on the map. 

Milborne, Winterborne & Okeford Fitzpaine was the only area to confirm fewer than three cases in the whole of Dorset. 

In the seven days to December 26, BCP had 994 new cases giving a rate of 251.4.

Meanwhile, Dorset had 532 cases and a rate of 140.6.

December 26 to January 2

By the new year, most of the BCP area had transformed into a sea of purple with the exception of Kinson East and West Highcliffe.

Four areas across the conurbation had MSOA rates above 800 cases per 100,000 people.

These were Bearwood, Penn Hill, Iford and Westbourne.

No areas appeared in white to show fewer than three cases.

By now, the BCP area had 2,403 cases and a rate of 607.8.

Dorset had 1170 cases and a rate of 309.1.

January 2 to 9

The BCP area had several areas with MSOA rates above 800 with Canford Heath West, Oakdale East, Penn Hill, Newtown, Bearwood, East Howe & Ensbury Park, West Cliff, Central Bournemouth, Springbourne & Queen's Park, Charminster, Boscombe West and Southbourne West all recording case rates above 1,000. 

A total of 3524 cases were seen across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area with a rate of 891.4.

Meanwhile, Dorset had 1261 cases and a rate of 333.2.