THERE are 18 areas in Dorset which have reported no coronavirus clusters according to latest statistics – as Covid-19 cases decrease in the county.

Public Health England breaks down the numbers of Covid-19 cases into neighbourhoods called 'Middle Super Output Areas' (MSOAs), which are smaller than council wards and based on population rather than geographical area.

The interactive map, which can be found online, allows users to type in their postcode and see how many cases were reported in their area and if it has increased or decreased from the week before.

These areas on the map are coloured white and described as "suppressed", meaning MSOA level rates are suppressed and there have been zero to two cases in a seven-day period. This also protects the privacy of individuals and prevent disclosure.

Government and Public Health England define a coronavirus cluster as an area where there are more than two Covid-19 cases in a population size of 7,500 at any one time.

The seven days up until Tuesday, February 23, the latest data, these are the areas in Dorset with no cases:

• Alderholt & Sixpenny Handley

• Beaminster, Maiden Newton & Halstock

• Blandford Outer & Tarrants

• Bridport North

• Bridport South and West Bay

• Corfe Castle & Langton Matravers

• East Howe & Ensbury Park

• East Southbourne & Hengistbury Head

• Jumpers Common & Fairmile

• Hamworthy West

• Mudeford

• Parley & Hampreston

• Preston & Lodmoor

• Sherborne

• St Leonards

• Wareham, Sandford & Holton Heath

• Wyke Regis

• Yetminster, Bradford Abbas & Longburton

In the seven days to Tuesday, February 16, 10 areas of Dorset reported no coronavirus cases. These areas included Bridport North, Bridport South and West Bay, Corfe Castle & Langton Matravers, Sherborne and Yetminster, Bradford Abbas & Longburton.

Parley & Hampreston, which has recorded no coronavirus clusters in the latest data, is the area which reported the biggest decrease of Covid-19 cases, after 20 people tested positive for coronavirus in the seven days to Tuesday, February 16.

Coronavirus cases across Dorset are decreasing, with 629 Covid-19 cases recorded in the seven days up to Tuesday, February 23.