Devon covid: up a bit, but still low

Just 11 people in hospital too

The numbers of new coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall in the last week has risen for the second week running – but infection rates remain among the lowest in England.

A total of 231 new cases were confirmed across the two counties in the last week – with the total since the start of the pandemic at 47,905 – with the numbers up by an average of two extra cases a day across the two counties compared to the previous week.

Numbers in Cornwall, North Devon, Teignbridge and West Devon are down, with East Devon unchanged, while only Plymouth of those areas seeing a rise an averaging more than one extra case per day.

Infection rates in Torbay at an upper tier authority level are the lowest in England – for the second successive week, with Cornwall third lowest and Devon fifth lowest,

Of the new cases confirmed since 23 April, 52 were in Cornwall, with 16 in East Devon, 21 in Exeter, 18 in Mid Devon, 15 in North Devon, 50 in Plymouth, 17 in South Hams, 15 in Teignbridge, 13 in Torbay, 9 in Torridge and 5 in West Devon.

And while the numbers of cases confirmed has risen slightly, the number of tests carried out across the region rose by 10 per cent in the last week, with positivity levels falling from 0.3 per cent to 0.2 per cent across Devon and Cornwall.

Infection rates are highest in the 0-19s across Devon and Cornwall – although lower than this time same week – with the lowest rate 80+s.

At a district level, infection rates in North Devon, Teignbridge and West Devon are highest in the 0-19s, in Torbay and East Devon in the 20-39s, in Exeter, Mid Devon, South Hams and Torridge in the 40-59s, and in Plymouth in the 60-79s.

No cases in the 40-59s in Teignbridge, or in the over 80s in Torbay, Plymouth, East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Torridge or West Devon were recorded from specimens from April 18-24

Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health, said: “One in three people with coronavirus show no symptoms. So even if you feel fine, make it a habit to get tested twice a week so you can help prevent the spread of coronavirus in our communities.

“Together with getting vaccinated when invited to, and remembering hands, face, space and fresh air, regular symptom-free testing is a vital part of being able to ease restrictions and life returning to normal as safely as possible.”

A Public Health Devon spokesman added: “With a long bank holiday weekend ahead of us, we are urging everyone to stay safe and continue to follow the COVID-19 restrictions while enjoying more of the freedoms we have missed during lockdown.

“Please remember you can only meet up with friends and family you do not live with outdoors for now, either in groups of up to six from any number of households or a group of any size from just two households. And remember you still need to keep your distance from each other.

“It’s tempting, when the sun goes in, to move indoors, but the risk of spreading coronavirus is significantly higher inside because you’re closer to each other and there’s less fresh air to disperse infected particles.

“We have done well to maintain low case numbers here in Devon, despite the gradual easing of restrictions over the past few weeks, and we still have one of the lowest rates in the country.

“But we are seeing a small increase in minor outbreaks across a number of settings, including workplaces, schools and care homes, so it’s really important we stay cautious, follow the rules and all take part in regular testing to help identify positive cases as soon as possible to stop the virus spreading.

“Please don’t get complacent this weekend, and remember the rules still apply even if you have had your vaccination. The pandemic isn’t over just yet. It feels like the end is in sight, but there’s still a risk of coronavirus in our communities and we must all do our bit to help keep everyone safe.”

But it comes as three of Devon’s four hospitals are free of covid-19 patients, latest figures from the NHS reveal – with no patients across Devon and Cornwall on ventilators.

Across Devon, there has been a fall in the number of patients in hospital, down to 11 from 13 as of last week, based on the figures showing the position as of Tuesday morning (April 27), with all 11 at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (down from 12 as of last week).

And the figures also show that as of Tuesday, there were no patients in any of Devon and Cornwall’s hospital in a mechanical ventilation bed – the first time since October 8

In the last week, there has been one deaths in Devon and Cornwall’s hospitals of patients within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test, in Exeter.  The last death in Derriford occurred on March 19, in Torbay on March 21, and in North Devon on February 26.

It comes as the latest figures show that more than one million people across Devon and Cornwall have had their first dose of a vaccine.

By 25 April, 1,417,398 vaccines had been delivered in the two counties, with 1,008,542 of them first doses.

In Devon, 683,712 people have had their first dose, with 271,135 of them having had a second dose, while in Cornwall, 324,830 people have had their first dose, with 137,721 a second dose.

It means that in Devon, 68.4 per cent of adults have had at least vaccine dose, while more than a quarter – 27.1 per cent – have had their second dose,