Devon covid higher than England average

Only rural areas fare well

Torbay once again has the highest covid rate in Devon after cases rose by 20 per cent in a week.

A further 775 cases were recorded in the seven days to Sunday 15 August, meaning the area now has a infection rate of 570 cases per 100,000 people.

However, there is better news in Plymouth and Exeter where cases here have both fallen by just under 20 per cent. Exeter still has the county’s second highest rate at 470, whilst Plymouth’s is now 372.

They are still well above the national average rate though, which is currently 304 cases per 100,000.

Elsewhere in Devon, barring the fall in Exeter and a small drop in North Devon, cases have risen in every other lower tier (district) authority. The biggest is in West Devon, which has seen its rate rise by over 40 per cent. At 285, this is still lower than the UK average.

There was also a significant increase in Teignbridge, which now has the third highest rate in Devon. Here, 575 new cases were registered and 426 people per 100,000 have the virus according to the data.

East Devon, Mid Devon and Torridge also recorded smaller rises.

HOSPITALISATIONS

The number of people in hospital with covid in the county has risen since the last update. The latest figures, up to Tuesday 17 August, show 120 patients with the virus in Devon’s hospitals – a rise of 31 on the previous week.

Of the 120 patients, 48 are at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, 34 are at the RD&E in Exeter, 24 are in Torbay and 14 are being cared for in North Devon. Eighteen people are on mechanical ventilation beds.

DEATHS

Eight people died in the county within 28 days of testing positive for covid in the latest complete seven day period up to and including Sunday 15 August. Six were in the Devon County Council area, one in Plymouth and one in Torbay.

A total of 1,079 people in Devon have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic began. This includes 216 in Plymouth and 165 in Torbay. Across the UK, 131,487 people have died within four weeks of testing positive.

VACCINATIONS

The number of adults aged 18 or over who have received at least one dose of a vaccine is now 87 per cent in the Devon County Council area, 86 per cent in Torbay and 84 per cent in Plymouth.

The proportion of people who are now fully vaccinated with both jabs is now 77 per cent in Devon, 77 per cent in Torbay and 72 per cent in Plymouth.