Covid infections fall in Devon

Down a third last week

Covid cases have fallen in every part of Devon except Torridge.

In the latest seven-day period (up to 25 July) cases fell by 2,335 across the county, a drop of almost 35 per cent on the previous week.

Plymouth had the largest fall, with new cases declining by almost half, from 2,549 to 1,344.

Last week the city saw numbers rocket by 1,126 (85 per cent), taking cases per 100,000 to 935, nearly three times (188 per cent) higher than the national average at that time.

Mid Devon recorded a similar drop with new cases falling by 135 (41 per cent). 

Torridge fared better this week than last, although the number of infections rose, bucking Devon’s overall trend..  The area recorded 209 new cases, 19 more than the previous week. But the rate of Torridge’s increase is more promising: in the previous week, cases rose by more than 145 per cent.

Overall, new covid infections dropped by a quarter (23 per cent) across Devon’s district council (which means everywhere except Plymouth and Torbay), although this is behind one-third drop nationally (33 per cent).

Hospitalisations

Forty-five patients were admitted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth with covid in the seven days up to Sunday 25 July, the latest date for which figures are available. This is 12 more than the previous week.

In Exeter, 29 patients were admitted to the RD&E, also 12 more than the previous week.

The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs several hospitals in the area, admitted 11 new covid patients, while Torbay Hospital admitted 14.

Deaths

Two people died in Devon this week as Torridge registered its first deaths within 28 days of a positive test in more than five months.

The number of people who have died within 28 days of a positive covid test since the pandemic began is 1,048 in Devon, including 206 in Plymouth and 156 in Torbay.

A total of 129,583 people have now died within 28 days of a positive covid test in the UK, a rise of 439 in the last seven days.

Vaccinations

As of 28 July 87 per cent of adults in the Devon County Council area have now had their first dose of a vaccine, with 72 per cent having  both.

In Torbay, 85 per cent of adults have had their first jab while nearly 73% have had both doses.

The gap in the number of adults who have had both their first and second doses in Plymouth fell slightly this week, narrowing by two per cent.  The numbers are now sitting at 82 per cent and 65 per cent respectively.

The UK total is currently at 88 per cent for one dose and 72 per cent for both doses. A total of 84,737,932 jabs have now been given across the country.