Exeter has higher covid rate than England average

City infections treble this week

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Exeter has trebled over seven days, rising from 29 to 87 people. For the first time, the infection rate is now higher than the average across England. Exeter has 66.2 cases per 100,000 people living here. It now stands at 58.2 in the country as a whole; meaning Exeter's rate is 14 per cent higher than England.

Devon County Council says an "alarming’" number of students at the University of Exeter are testing positive. Cllr Roger Croad, its cabinet member for public health said that while there was not much evidence of any community transmission in Exeter being spread by students, the number of students testing positive in recent days is "alarming".

The number of students who have tested positive has not been confirmed, but it is believed that there at least 60 student houses of multiple occupation off campus that are self-isolating, in addition to the others in halls of residence.

The university has asked all of their students who live in the city not to meet indoors with anyone who is not part of their household, for 14 days (from 28 September), except under some acceptable circumstances, such as attending lectures on the covid-19 secure campus. 

A spokesman said that could not comment on what "alarming" meant to Cllr Croad, but that they would aim to give an update each week on the broad number of cases at the university based on PHE and Devon County Counci information.

Steve Brown, deputy director of Public Health Devon, has thanked university students for responding to the new additional measures to curb the coronavirus infection and said it is essential that everyone in the city’s community continues to follow the rules to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Mr Brown said: “We know, from the positive cases we’re seeing across the region, that the infection is spreading in social settings, mostly within and between households. That’s why the University’s additional instruction this week is so important, and it’s great that students are hearing and abiding by that message. The rules require us all to pay attention and to take individual and collective responsibility. We must act as one in our response to this virus and each of us must follow the guidance and rules to the letter. This is the only way that we can get back to living without these tighter restrictions.”

Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, whose constituency covers part of Exeter, said; “I’m confident the steps taken to contain cases of the virus connected to the university will help stop the spread and protect our city. We’ve kept the virus at bay locally and worked hard to follow the rules. None of us want these restrictions. We must all keep up the great work in Devon to keep cases low so we never need the restrictions other parts of the country are now facing.”