Covid cases continue to rise across Devon

Torbay's cases are below the national average

Covid cases have again risen in every council area across Devon, reflecting the upward trend nationally.

In the week to Thursday 14 October cases increased by almost a third (30 per cent) in the Devon County Council area, but were lower at 16 per cent in Torbay and 15 per cent in Plymouth.

Devon and Plymouth’s cases per 100,000 people now stands at just under 450, while in Torbay it is 409. By comparison, the UK average is 435.

Of the county’s eight districts, Mid Devon recorded by far the biggest rise of almost double, putting its infection rate well above the national average at 554 cases per 100,000.

West and East Devon also had large increases of just under 40 per cent, while Exeter was the only council to record a single-figure rise; just four per cent more cases were recorded.

It is a complete change from earlier in the year when Exeter was a Devon hotspot, put down mainly to the large student population. But now the city now has the lowest covid rate in the county at 329, with South Hams at 351 the only other council area to have a rate lower than 400. West Devon’s infection rate of 595 is the highest in the county.

Health chiefs will discuss the situation with local authorities at the monthly meeting of the Team Devon local outbreak engagement board which takes place on Thursday [21 October].

HOSPITALISATIONS

The recent rise in case numbers across the county has led to an increase in the number of people being treated for covid in Devon’s hospitals to 30.

Latest figures for Tuesday 12 October show 108 covid patients in the county’s hospitals; 40 of which are at Derriford in Plymouth, 34 at the RD&E, 18 in Torbay, 15 in North Devon and one at Devon Partnership mental health trust sites. Of the total number of patients, ten are on mechanical ventilation beds.

DEATHS

Fifteen more people died in the county within 28 days of testing positive for covid in the latest complete weekly period (up to Thursday 7 October). Seven were in the Devon County Council area, three in Plymouth and five in Torbay.

A total of 1,259 people in Devon (including Plymouth and Torbay) have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic began.

VACCINATIONS

Vaccination numbers now include those aged 12 and over. In the Devon County Council area, 84 per cent have now had a least one dose, with 82 per cent in Torbay and 81 per cent in Plymouth.

The proportion of people who are fully vaccinated with both jabs is 79 per cent in Devon, 77 per cent in Torbay and 74 per cent in Plymouth.