No Covid-related deaths in Devon for the first time in 34 weeks

No deaths relating to coronavirus in Devon have been recorded in the most recent weekly figures, for the first time since mid-September.

The figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which relate to the week of May 15 to May 21 but registered up to May 29, show that none of the 196 deaths registered in Devon had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.

It's the fifth consecutive week in which there were no deaths in a care home in Devon or Cornwall, and the tenth consecutive week where the total number of Covid-related deaths was in single figures.

In total, 1,748 deaths from coronavirus have been registered across Devon and Cornwall, with 961 in hospitals, 658 in care homes, 117 at home, five in a hospice, three in a communal establishment and four 'elsewhere'.

Other communal establishments, as defined by the ONS, include defence bases, educational premises, prisons (including probation/bail hostel, prisons, detention centres and other detention), hotels, hostels, travel and temporary accommodation (including B&Bs, temporary shelter for homeless and holiday parks), and religious premises.

The ONS define elsewhere as all places not covered by the other definitions, such as deaths on a motorway, at the beach, climbing a mountain, walking down the street, at the cinema, at a football match, while out shopping or in someone else's home.

Of the deaths, 575 have been registered in Cornwall, 233 in Plymouth, 212 in East Devon, 168 in Torbay, 130 in Teignbridge, 128 in Exeter, 83 in Mid Devon, 71 in North Devon, 55 in Torridge, 53 in the South Hams, 40 in West Devon, and none on the Isles of Scilly.

So far in 2021, there have been 313 deaths in Cornwall, 94 in Plymouth, 88 in East Devon, 70 in Teignbridge, 59 in Torbay, 55 in Exeter, 36 in Mid Devon, 29 in South Hams, 14 in North Devon, 14 in Torridge and 12 in West Devon.

The figures show in which local authority the deceased's usual place of residence was. For instance, if someone died in Derriford Hospital but lived in West Devon, the death may have been registered in Plymouth, but would be recorded in the mortality statistics for the ONS figures against West Devon.

Deaths that have occurred since May 21 will be recorded in next week's figures, as long as the deceased lived within Devon and Cornwall, the death has been registered, and Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.