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Devon covid lowest since October

Saturday, 20 February 2021 07:59

By Daniel Clark, local democracy reporter

Half of Exeter cases are at the prison

The lowest weekly number of coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall since the start of October has been recorded, with West Devon averaging less than one case a day.

But cases in Exeter have doubled, because of an outbreak at the city's prison. Last week, Exeter had 74 cases per 100,000 people, compared with 37 the week before. Half of Exeter's covid cases are at the prison.

A total of 835 new cases were confirmed in the last week, down from 1,169, and the lowest since the beginning of October, brining the total since the start of the pandemic to 44,939.

Devon also has the lowest infection rates of any county council-level authority in England, with Plymouth second and Cornwall third, and at a lower tier level, the four lowest infection rates are all in Devon.

Of the new cases, 241 were in Cornwall, 81 in East Devon, 92 in Exeter, 57 in Mid Devon, 23 in North Devon, 127 in Plymouth, 13 in South Hams, 65 in Teignbridge, 119 in Torbay, 11 in Torridge and 6 in West Devon.

While the numbers in Exeter have risen, this is almost entirely down to an outbreak at Exeter Prison.

In terms of infection rates by age, cases are highest in the 20-39 age ranges, with only North Devon (40-59s) and Plymouth and Cornwall (80+) having infection rates higher in different age groups.

The number of patients in all of Devon’s hospitals following a positive covid-19 test has fallen to its lowest figure since October. As of Tuesday 16 February, 213 people were in hospital with covid, down from 325. There were 29 patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (down from 41 as of Feb 9), 34 at the NHS Nightingale Exeter (down from 54), 23 at Torbay Hospital (down from 33), 42 in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (down from 62), none at North Devon District Hospital (down from 2), and three in Devon Partnership NHS Trust units (unchanged).

Patients in mechanical ventilation beds is down from 27 to 22: 11 in Derriford, six in Torbay and five in Exeter. In Cornwall, the number is nine, down from 14.

In the last week, 24 people died in Devon and Cornwall hospitals within 28 days of a positive covid test: 14 in Cornwall, four in Plymouth, four in Torbay, and two in Exeter.

Steve Brown, director of public health Devon, said: “We’re seeing the larger proportion of people testing positive in that younger working age group, so I want to remind people not to be complacent. Not just when you’re in work, but also travelling to and from work.”

By 14 February, 355,271 vaccines had been given in Devon - a third of the population. Almost all (342,397) were first doses. Almost all 98 per cent) of people over 80 have received their first jab.

Of the total population of Devon, 12,874, people, one per cent have also had their second dose.

 

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