Devon covid down

But still higher than UK average

Covid cases have fallen in every area of Devon apart from a small rise in North Devon.

Cases in the week to Thursday 4 November show fell around 15 per cent in Torbay and Plymouth, with a more modest drop of nine per cent in the Devon County Council area.

Devon’s number of cases per 100,000 people now stands at 442, while the figures in Torbay and Plymouth are 458 and 418 respectively. All are much higher than the national average, where the average is now 379.

Of the county’s eight district areas, all but North Devon recorded falls. East Devon and Torridge had the biggest drops of 15 per cent. Teignbridge and Mid Devon saw cases fall by over 10 per cent.

Most Devon district council areas are also higher than the UK average. Only South Hams, Exeter and Torridge have rates below 400 per 100,000 people.

The level of infection in the youngest age group, people aged 19 and under, is generally falling in Devon too - down from 1,186 cases per 100,000 on 22 October to 819 in the latest figures for Wednesday 3 November.

However, the numbers show a steady rise in cases continuing in 20-39 year-olds and an increase in October amongst 40-59 year-olds.

HOSPITALISATIONS

Latest figures for Tuesday 2 November show 129 covid patients in the county’s hospitals – a rise of eleven on last week’s total.

Of the total in hospital, 51 are at Derriford in Plymouth, 43 at the RD&E in Exeter, 22 in Torbay, 11 in North Devon and two at Devon Partnership mental health trust sites. Of the total number of patients, 11 are on mechanical ventilation beds.

DEATHS

Twenty-one more people died in the county within 28 days of testing positive for covid in the latest complete weekly period (up to Wednesday 3 November). Fourteen were in the Devon County Council area, six in Torbay and one in Plymouth.

A total of 1,306 people in Devon (including Plymouth and Torbay) have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic began.

VACCINATIONS

Vaccination percentages now include those aged 12 and over. The number who have received at least one dose of a vaccine is 86 per cent in the Devon County Council area, 84 per cent in Torbay and 82 per cent in Plymouth.

The proportion of people who are fully vaccinated with both jabs is 80 per cent in Devon, 78 per cent in Torbay and 75 per cent in Plymouth.