Devon covid rising

But people on ventilators down on peak

The number of patients hospital patients requiring mechanical ventilation has substantially decreased in the last 18 months after over 70 per cent of adults in Devon received three vaccines.

The vaccine rollout to counter covid – which sent the UK into its first lockdown in March 2020 – started at the end of that year, and is now said to be limiting the severity of symptoms among people contracting the virus.

However, in recent weeks the rate of infection has risen in Devon, and now one in 25 people – around four percent of the local population – currently have coronavirus, according to Devon's director of public health, Steve Brown.

Last week, 333 people were in Devon hospitals with the disease, and there were four covid-related deaths in the region.

Devon County Council's ruling cabinet met with health consultants on Thursday to assess the latest figures and review the latest advice to local authorities.

Mr Brown told the meeting more people are catching the virus and more ending up in hospital too. 

“Increases in community transmission and we’re also seeing increases in hospitalisation,” he explained.

He added that the picture in Devon matches “what’s happening nationally,” and that the BA.5 variant of covid is currently the “dominant strain.”

However, patients’ need for a “high dependency unit” has not increased according to Mr Brown, so while the illness appears to be “more transmissible” right now, it is “not translating to serious harm.”

Health and wellbeing consultant Simon Chan, has compiled the figures for Devon into a database, and more specific covid numbers are also available for unitary authorities to view as well.

Where there were as many as 40 people in mechanically ventilated beds in February 2021, there have only ever been as many as two patients receiving mechanical breathing assistance since 20 April 2022.

Mr Brown and chief medical officer of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Dr Nigel Acheson said they intend to push schools to promote vaccines for eligible children.

Mr Brown said there is a “close relationship” and a “positive collaboration” between the council and Devon schools, and stated that there is no “evidence” of any extra cases.

As a result, schools are still encouraged to do what they believe is right for their pupils.

Should there be children who would like to take the jab but are not permitted to by their parents, Mr  Brown said they will encourage a “separate conversation” between parent and child about next steps.

James McInnes, cabinet member for social care and health for Devon County Council, urged people to “live their life,” but “take measures,” such as wearing face coverings, to take care of others.