Devon covid cases up 60 per cent

Huge rise in infections this week

More than 5,000 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed across Devon and Cornwall in the previous seven days, with rises in all districts.

The 5,120 cases is the highest weekly number so far (although comparisons with the spring cannot be made due to lack of testing),  taking the total for the two counties since the pandemic began to more than 30,000. Last week 3,287 new cases were confirmed.

Cases have risen in every single region of Devon, although all ten areas of the county are in the bottom 15 of the 315 nationwide. Of the 5,120 cases confirmed since 1 January, 2,212 are in Cornwall, with 379 in East Devon, 405 in Exeter, 255 in Mid Devon, 147 in North Devon, 710 in Plymouth, 202 in the South Hams, 312 in Teignbridge, 310 in Torbay, 100 in Torridge and 88 in West Devon. Cases rose everywhere, although in North Devon and West Devon it's very slight.

As of Tuesday morning, 264 patients were in Devon and Cornwall's hospitals following a positive covid-19 test, with 96 patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (up from 82 as of 30 December), 26 at the Nightingale (up from 21), 20 at Torbay Hospital (up from 13), 47 in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (up from 34), 18 at North Devon District Hospital (down from 29), and 57 in Cornwall (up from 40).

There were 14 patients in mechanical ventilation beds, with six at Derriford Hospital, one at Torbay, two at the RD&E, two in North Devon, and three in Cornwall.

In the last week, 31 people died in hospitals in Devon and Cornwall within 28 days of a positive covid-19 test: 15 in Exeter, six in North Devon, five in Plymouth, four in Cornwall and one in Torbay.

It comes as Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon (designate), pleaded with residents to follow the lockdown restrictions. He said: “The new strain of coronavirus is exceptionally good at spreading between people, which is why the government is imposing new national restrictions requiring everyone to stay at home as much as possible and to minimise their time with others, except those in their immediate household or bubble.

“Please, stay at home and only go out when you need to, and minimise your contact with other people. If you must be outside, please continue to follow social distancing rules, wear a face covering in public places, and wash your hands properly and regularly.”