Devon covid drops slightly

Three fewer cases this week

The number of coronavirus cases confirmed in the last seven days has fallen in Devon, but only marginally. Eighty people were confirmed to have contracted the disease this week, compared with 83 last week. That's despite Plymouth cases almost doubling, from 21 to 40,  as the track and trace operation catches those who had been in contact with the ‘Zante 11’, following a group of teenagers returning from a holiday on the Greek island.

Four cases were confirmed  in Torbay, eight in East Devon, seven in Exeter, seven in Mid Devon, two in North Devon, six in the South Hams, five  in Teignbridge, four in Torbay, and one in Torridge. No new cases were confirmed in West Devon.

The number of people in hospital in the whole of the south west, the region spanning as far north as Gloucestershire has fallen to 10 – the lowest number since figures began to be recorded in April.

There is a cluster cases in some parts. A cluster is considered to be more than two confirmed cases. Three cases are reported in Clyst, Exton and Lympstone in East Devon, three cases in Middlemoor and Sowton in Exeter, and three in both Dartington and Loddiswell, and Ivybridge, in the South Hams.

Plymouth currently has a cluster of five cases in Plympton Underwood and Plymstock Hooe and Oreston, and four cases in North Prospect and Mannamead and Hartley.

Clusters in Mutley and Peverell in Plymouth, Wellswood in Torbay, Teignmouth North in Teignbridge, Bradninch, Silverton and Thorverton, Cullompton, and Morchard Bishop, Copplestone & Newton St Cyres have dropped off the map in the most recent week. Every other measured region of Devon and Cornwall – small patches of around 7,200 average population – have had two or fewer cases in that time period, with it now been eight weeks since the last cluster was registered in Cornwall.

A spokesman for Devon County Council, which doesn't include Plymouth or Torbay, says: “The numbers currently stand at around 30 cases in Devon, about the same last week.  As those earlier returns come out of self-isolation, we’ve got equal numbers going in. With August behind us, we expect the numbers will start to fall again.

“We’ll continue to monitor the data really closely, so we’re able to respond immediately to any significant rise.  But it’s a reminder that we’ve all still got to play our part and take care when travelling abroad and at home.  Remember the precautions and continue to heed the advice.

“The numbers though are still comparatively very low compared to elsewhere in the country, and the risk of spread within communities in Devon is also still very low. “

The last death in a hospital in Devon and Cornwall occurred on June 29, and latest figures show only four people in the two counties had covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate in July. That was down from 20 in June, 118 in May, 373 in April, and 53 in March.

The R Rate for the South West is now being estimated as between 0.8 and 1.1, down from 0.9 to 1.1, last week.