Coronavirus cases have continued to fall across Devon, with several council areas at last having infection rates lower than the national average.

Every authority in Devon, including Plymouth and Torbay, saw rates fall in the seven-day period up to Sunday, September 5.

Teignbridge had the biggest decline, with the number of people catching the virus falling by a quarter to 415.

The case rate in the district is now 307 per 100,000 of the population, taking it well below the national average of 392.

Every single district council in the Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay, now has an infection rate lower than the national average.

The average in the county council area is 345 per 100,000 – about 14 per cent lower than the UK mean.

In Plymouth, cases have fallen by 10 per cent to 1,174. The infection rate per 100,000 of the population is now 447.

In Torbay, cases have fallen by six per cent to 551. This takes the area's infection rate per 100,000 of the population to 406.

These stats will be welcome news for health bosses in the county. Only two weeks ago Devon had some of the highest infection rates in the UK.

This was partly put down to Boardmasters music festival in neighbouring Cornwall, which was linked to more than 5,000 cases.

Hospitalisations

The fall in infection rates is starting to be mirrored by a decline in hospitalisations.

Latest figures for Tuesday, September 7 showed that there were 136 people in hospital with COVID-19 across Devon, down by 10 on the previous week.

Of these 136 patients, 56 were at Derriford, 45 were at the Royal Devon & Exeter, 18 in Torbay, while 16 were being cared for at North Devon District Hospital.

Deaths

Sixteen people died in Devon within 28 days of a positive COVID test in the seven-day period up to and including Sunday, September 5.

Ten people died in the Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay. In Plymouth, six people lost their lives with COVID-19 whilst no deaths were recorded in Torbay.

The total number of people who have died of coronavirus across Devon is now 1,154.

Vaccinations

Eighty-seven per cent of adults have had at least one dose of a vaccine in the Devon County Council area, with 80 per cent receiving both doses.

In Plymouth, 84 per cent have had one dose, while 76 per cent have had both.

In Torbay, 85 per cent have received one dose, while 78 per cent have had both jabs.

This means that vaccination rates in Devon are slightly behind the rest of the UK. Eighty-nine per cent of adults in the country have had one dose, while 81 per cent have had both jabs.

COVID cases in the Seaton area

Despite the decrease across Devon, coronavirus cases in the Seaton area increased in the seven-day period up until September 7.

There were 27 confirmed cases in Axminster, an increase of 11 on the previous week.

This means the case rate per 100,000 people is 358.3 – still below the national average of 392.

The figures for neighbouring areas up until September 3 were as follows:

Axminster – 12 (decrease of 13)

Kilmington, Colyton & Uplyme – 25 (decrease of 18)

Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Marshwood Vale – 17 (no change)

Sidbury, Offwell & Beer – 20 (increase of 3)

Sidmouth Town – 21 (increase of 11)

Sidmouth Sidford – 6 (decrease of 15)

Honiton South & West – 11 (decrease of 10)

Honiton North & East – 16 (decrease of 5)

Dunkeswell, Upottery & Stockland – 12 (decrease of 13)

Chard West – 33 (increase of 1)

Chard North & East – 25 (decrease of 16)

Tatworth & Combe St Nicholas – 33 (increase of 8)