Dorset agencies including Dorset Council, the emergency services and health authorities, have issued an impassioned plea for local residents to stay at home.

In a joint statement to the public the agencies said that staff across councils, NHS services, police, fire and voluntary and community sector organisations were all working ‘extremely hard’ to make sure they can deliver essential services and support the most vulnerable in local communities.

But they added: ‘But we also need your help, today. Anyone can spread the virus. Please stay at home. This means not meeting up or visiting friends and family members that do not live with you.’

The full statement is below:

Stay at home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives in Dorset.

Dorset, it’s a simple message. Please stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.

The most important action we can all take in Dorset, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

All agencies in Dorset and nationally are working together to take all the necessary steps to contain and delay the spread of the virus and to ensure we are well prepared for increases in cases across Dorset.

NHS services in Dorset are gearing up for changes help minimise the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and deal with any upturn in patient numbers caused by the outbreak.

Staff across councils, NHS services, police, fire and voluntary and community sector organisations are all working extremely hard to make sure we can deliver our essential services and support the most vulnerable in our communities. 

But we also need your help, today. Anyone can spread the virus. Please stay at home.

This means not meeting up or visiting friends and family members that do not live with you.

You can only go outside for food, health reasons or work (where this absolutely cannot be done from home). You can also go out for one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk or cycle – alone or with members of your household but not with others.

If you go out for any of these reasons, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people and wash your hands as soon as you get home.

Together, with your support, we can save lives.

Thank you