Dorset Covid-19 cases drop while experts issue warning
Public Health Dorset say cases will rise in the next few weeks
This week Dorset and BCP Councils have seen a small drop in covid-19 case rate but infection levels remain high and nationally cases are now rising rapidly due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in Dorset is 83, that's up from data released last week.
Those with a positive case in Dorset Council have dropped to 2092 compared to 2279 on December 10th.
Similar to BCP Council who have also seen cases drop to 2493 from 2712 the week previous.
We are being warned cases will rise in Dorset over the next few weeks.
What we know about Omicron in Dorset?
A small number of Omicron cases have been confirmed in the county compared to other areas.
Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are slightly behind other places like London where Omicron is surging, so we expect to see this in Dorset soon.
There is not enough data to be certain about the severity of the Omicron variant, but even if it is less severe than Delta, we expect to see more people needing hospital treatment due to the increased transmissibility of this variant leading to many more people potentially becoming infected.
A statement on the Public Health Dorset website says:
"Vaccination alone will not stop the spread of the virus, we also need to continue with public health measures. Test regularly, particularly before gatherings or meeting others. Get plenty of fresh air when you're meeting others, by meeting outdoors or opening doors and windows.
"Wear a face covering in indoor or crowded spaces.
"As the festive period approaches, consider the risks as with high infection rates you are much more likely to catch COVID-19. Avoid mixing unnecessarily, as this could mean having to miss the things that are most important to you."