Covid cases lowest since start of September

The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed across the region in the last week is the lowest since the start of September.

A total of 108 new cases were confirmed across Devon and Cornwall in the last week – with the total since the start of the pandemic at 48,287.

It is the lowest weekly total since 154 were recorded in the week of September 6-12.

Numbers in Exeter, South Hams and Teignbridge are slightly up in the last week – none by more than four cases – while cases in Plymouth have nearly quartered in the last week.

Infection rates in Cornwall, Devon and Torbay are in the bottom ten in England, with Plymouth just outside, but rates in the city are falling faster than anywhere else in the region.

Government stats show that 108 new cases have been confirmed across the region in the past seven days, compared to 184 new cases confirmed last week.

Of the 108 new cases confirmed since May 14, five were in East Devon.

Infection rates are highest in the 0-19s across Devon and Cornwall, with eight of the 11 areas recording no cases in the over 80s.

At a district level, infection rates in South Hams and West Devon are highest in the 0-19s, in Torbay, Plymouth and East Devon in the 20-39s, Exeter and Teignbridge in the 40-59s, and in the 60-79s in Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge – with the latter area seeing its only cases in this age group.

Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, said: "While coronavirus is still present in our communities, and people are still at risk of catching it and spreading it, the common sense approach is the cautious approach.

"Around one in three people who catch coronavirus do not show symptoms, so can spread the virus to others without knowing.

"And while vaccines reduce the chances of catching Covid-19 and passing it on, and of serious illness, they do not eliminate the risk as protection against the virus is not guaranteed.

"I ask people to remain ever vigilant of risk as we take in the latest easing of restrictions. We are allowed to do a little bit more now, but just because we can, doesn't mean we must."

He added: "Make testing part of your regular week. Build it into a routine, and use the lateral flow device tests as well when you know you're likely to be meeting up with friends or family.

"These tests are so fast now that you will have your result and peace of mind in half an hour.

"If it comes back positive, then you'll prevent others from catching it by staying home and arranging a confirmatory test."

It comes as there are now just four patients in hospitals in Devon and Cornwall following a positive Covid-19 test, with no patients across Devon and Cornwall on ventilators, figures giving the position as of Tuesday show.

There have been no patients in hospital in North Devon since April 3, while Torbay Hospital has been free of patients since April 13 – the only day since March 30 it housed a patient.

Derriford Hospital has one patient who was admitted on May 14, while the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital also has one patient, the lowest for the Trust since October 8, with September 11 the last time it was free of Covid.

There are two patients in hospital in Cornwall, down on the three as of the same time the previous week.

In terms of hospital deaths, there have been none in any of Devon and Cornwall's hospitals since April 29.

In terms of the latest MSOA cluster maps, that cover the period of specimen dates between May 10-16, there are 222 areas of Devon and Cornwall with between 0-2 cases, with only eighty areas reporting three or more cases.

The MSOA areas with clusters of three or more cases are Chillington, Torcross and Stoke Fleming (8), South Molton (4), Keyham, Mannamead & Hartley, Mutley, Preston & Shorton, Central Exeter and Dawlish South (all 3).

No area of Cornwall, East Devon, Mid Devon, Torridge, West Devon or the Isles of Scilly reported more than 3 cases.

It comes as more than 700,000 people in Devon have had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine – with close to 500,000 having had a second jab.

The statistics, which provide the position as of May 17, show that there have been 1,169,431 vaccines delivered in Devon, with 729,168 being a first dose, and 440,263 being a second dose.

In Cornwall, 347,996 people have had a first dose, with a further 219,420 having had a second dose.

Across Devon and Cornwall, more than 70 per cent of adults have had their first dose, with around 45 per cent having had a second dose.

The impact of England moving out of Step 3 of lockdown on Monday would not be seen in the new positive cases figures until the start of next week at the earliest.

This is due to the lag between infection, symptoms, testing and positive results.