Devon covid cases drop

But they're still above the national average

Covid cases have fallen in almost every part of the county, but still remain higher than the national average.

The latest government figures for the seven days to Thursday 26 August show how infections fell by around a quarter in the Devon County Council area and Torbay. However, Plymouth’s total increased by 11 per cent.

Whilst the drop in much of the county will be welcomed after weeks of rising cases led to the south west being designated as an ‘enhanced response area’ on Friday, rates in many districts still remain some of the highest in the country.

The 1,418 new weekly cases in Plymouth means it now has a rate of 540 cases per 100,000 people. By comparison, the UK average is 355.

Aside from Plymouth, the next highest covid rates in the county are in Torbay, Teignbridge and Mid Devon at just over 480 per 100,000 in each area.

Elsewhere, Exeter and West Devon recorded the biggest falls in cases around 30 per cent. Infections in North Devon, East Devon and the South Hams also reduced by more than a quarter.

HOSPITALISATIONS

The recent rise in people being admitted to hospital with covid has continued, with the figure up by 16 on last week.

The latest figures for Tuesday 24 August show 136 patients with the virus in Devon’s hospitals. However, this remains some way below the number of patients being treated for covid during last winter’s peak.

Of those 136 patients, 52 are at Derriford Hospital, 40 are at the RD&E, 19 are in Torbay, 14 are being cared for in North Devon and six are at the Devon Partnership mental health trust. Of these people, 10 are on mechanical ventilation beds.

DEATHS

Twenty-nine more people died in the county within 28 days of testing positive for covid in the latest complete seven-day period (up to and including 26 August). Thirteen were in the Devon County Council area, eight in Plymouth and eight in Torbay.

A total of 1,118 people in Devon have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic began. This includes 226 in Plymouth and 173 in Torbay.

VACCINATIONS

The number of adults aged 18 or over who have received at least one dose of a vaccine is now 88 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 80 per cent in Devon, 79 per cent in Torbay and 75 per cent in Plymouth.