MORE than 750 new Covid cases have been confirmed across Dorset in the last day, according to the latest data.

A total of 751 infections were recorded across both BCP and Dorset council areas in the 24-hours up to 4pm on Wednesday, December 15.

Of these, 444 were seen across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 67,788.

Across the conurbation, 2,511 people have tested positive for the virus in the last seven days giving a rate of 632.5 per 100,000 people.

In the Dorset Council area, there have been 307 new cases in the latest 24-hour period bringing the overall total to 47,863.

There have been 2,091 infections in the past seven days at a rate of 550.6.

Meanwhile, across the New Forest, there are 161 new cases, with 1,040 in the last week, giving a rate of 578.9.

The district has seen 22,150 positive results since the start of the pandemic.

A further 78,610 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the UK as of 9am on Wednesday, the highest daily total recorded since the pandemic began.

The UK Health Security Agency said a further 4,671 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been reported across the UK as of Wednesday.

It brings the total confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 10,017.

The Government said a further 165 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 172,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.