Covid cases continue to fall across Devon and Cornwall

As step 3 of England's roadmap out of lockdown kicks into place from today, it follows a weekend during which Devon and Cornwall saw the lowest number of daily coronavirus cases confirmed since the start of September.

Saturday saw 14 new cases recorded in the two counties, but a net 13 as a previous false positive in Mid Devon was removed, and Sunday saw 13 new cases recorded - a net 12 as a previous false positive in Torbay was removed.

The two daily figures are the lowest since 12 cases were confirmed on September 3. The last time the daily total was a single figure was August 29, with nine cases.

At an upper tier level, Cornwall has England's lowest infection rate (7.2/100,000), with Devon at 9.6/100,000, and Torbay at 13.9/100,000.

Plymouth's infection rate of 23.7/100,000 is above the average for England, but is falling, and will continue to fall over the next couple of days.

While infection rates in West Devon, East Devon, Torridge and Mid Devon are slightly up, they are all less than half the national average, and in all cases, the rise is equivalent to less than one additional confirmed case a day.

In terms of patients in hospital following a positive Covid-19 test, North Devon District Hospital has had no patients since April 3, Derriford Hospital in Plymouth has had no patients since April 25, and Torbay Hospital none since April 13 (and that was just one for one day – the only day with a patient since March 30).

The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital has seven patients, its lowest total since October 13, with three in Cornwall.

There have been no Covid-19 deaths in any of Devon and Cornwall's hospitals since April 29, with this being the longest period since September without a death occurring.

No Covid clusters in this area

At an MSOA level, for cases with a specimen between May 5 and 11, there are only 20 areas across Devon and Cornwall which recorded three or more positives, with no area seeing more than five.

Only one area of Cornwall (St Germans & St Mellion) is currently recording a cluster, while there are none in Exeter, Mid Devon, Teignbridge or Torridge. East Devon has just one cluster of three cases, in Exmouth Littleham.

The rules under Step Three of the roadmap

Step 3 of the Government's roadmap, which came into force from 00.01am, reintroduce indoor mixing, with the rule of six or two households, while outdoor mixing is now allowed in groups of up to 30 or two households.

Pubs and restaurants can resume service indoors, and hotels, B&Bs, indoor adult group sports, exercise classes, children's play areas, and cinemas are all reopening.

Some larger outdoor events may now go ahead from Monday, too, such as sporting events of up to 10,000 people, or half-full, whichever is lower. Indoor sporting events with a capacity of 1,000 people, or half capacity, can also go ahead.