Residents are being encouraged to download the new NHS COVID-19 app which warns people when they have come into contact with anyone who subsequently tests positive.

The long-awaited coronavirus contact-tracing software, which is free, launched two days ago across England and Wales.

National and regional daily newspapers across the country – including the Dorset Echo – today feature cover wraps encouraging the public to download the app, with the aim of stopping the spread of coronavirus, as part of the Big App Download Weekend.

The app will be used alongside traditional contact tracing to help trace individuals who may have come into contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus.

It allows people to check into venues by scanning a QR code. It also provides them with an alert if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, and helps them check if they have symptoms and book a test.

When people first register for the app (available via the App Store or Google Play) they are asked for the first half of their postcode so they can be notified when the area's risk level changes. In England, risk level is based on the local authority 'watch list', determined each week by government health officials.

Dorset is showing 'medium risk' which means the local authority, or neighbouring authority, has 'high or rising levels of infection'.

It is stressed however that in England there are no local authority areas currently classified as low. This is to 'reflect the general increase in infection rate across the country'. Officials say it is 'not considered appropriate' for anywhere in England to be deemed low risk due to the current environment.

A high risk area means the local authority is using additional measures, such as lockdown, to reduce transmission because of high levels of infection. These are mainly in the north of England.

An update was given yesterday of the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 for every local authority area in England.

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Data for the most recent three days (September 23-25) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

In Dorset, 23 new cases were recorded in the seven days to September 22 - the equivalent of 6.1 per 100,000 people. This is up from 21 cases (5.5 per 100,000) in the seven days to September 15.

This is one of the lowest rates in the country.

Bolton in Greater Manchester continues to record the highest rate in England, with 696 new cases recorded in the seven days to September 22 - the equivalent of 242.0 per 100,000 people.