THERE has been a rise in Covid-19 cases across north Dorset in the last seven days, with some case rates exceeding 300 per 100,000.

Despite this, no where in this part of the county has been identified as a hotspot.

Here are the areas with more than 200 cases per 100,000 - the highest rates in north Dorset and the Blackmore Vale patch:

TISBURY, DONHEAD AND TOLLARD ROYAL - 13 cases (+2 on previous week; rolling rate of 205.9)

TEMPLECOMBE, HENTSRIDGE AND MILBORNE PORT - 16 cases (+8 on previous week; rolling rate of 241.1)

BLANDFORD OUTER AND TARRANTS - 28 cases (+18 on previous week; rolling rate of 309.0)

YETMINSTER, BRADFORD ABBAS AND LONGBURTON - 18 cases (-2 on previous week; rolling rate of 234.4)

Cases of coronavirus have been spiralling out of control all across the country despite the former Tier 3 and 4 restrictions.

In response to this, in addition to mounting pressure on the government and the increasing spread of a new strain of the virus, a new national lockdown was confirmed last night.

Updated daily, the map and figures are based on Public Health England data from the week ending December 30.

They are available on the government coronavirus dashboard's interactive map, which breaks down infections in England into Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs) - small areas with an average population of 7,200.

The map shows the number of positive cases in each MSOA in England over a weekly period, any changes compared to the previous weekly period - whether cases have increased or decreased and by how much - and the rate of new cases per 100,000, the rolling rate.

Here is a breakdown of cases from the rest of the north Dorset area:

SHAFTESBURY - 15 cases (+6 on previous week; rolling rate of 167.9)

GILLINGHAM - 15 cases (+5 on previous week; rolling rate of 196.3)

GILLINGHAM OUTER, BOURTON AND MOTCOMBE - 17 cases (+7 on previous week; rolling rate of 185.4)

STURMINSTER NEWTON AND STALBRIDGE - 19 cases (+8 on previous week; rolling rate of 186.1)

MERE AND EAST KNOYLE - 11 cases (-5 on previous week; rolling rate of 163.3)

CHILD OKEFORD AND IWERNE MINSTER - 10 cases (0 change on previous week; rolling rate of 137.8)

MILBORNE, WINTERBORNE AND OKEFORD FITZPAINE - 13 cases (+11 on previous week; rolling rate of 163.0)

SHERBORNE - 15 cases (+4 on previous week; rolling rate of 151.6)

The nearest Covid-19 'hotspot' areas are in and around Salisbury and Warminster.