COVID-19: Cases continue to drop across Devon but increase in Seaton

The total number of coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon have continued to fall, although some areas have seen slight increases.

Devon saw 288 COVID-19 cases recorded last week, compared to 290 the previous week, and in the Devon County Council area figures dropped from 153 to 135.

Cases confirmed over the last week increased in West Devon, Torridge, South Hams and Teignbridge – but by less than one new cases every two days – as well as in Cornwall and Plymouth.

Of the new cases confirmed over the past week, 44 were in East Devon, 19 in Exeter, 20 in Mid Devon, 7 in North Devon, 126 in Plymouth, 11 in South Hams, 16 in Teignbridge, 27 in Torbay, 9 in Torridge and 9 in West Devon.

Seaton has seen a recent increase in cases, with numbers standing at 11 as of March 23, an increase of nine on the previous week (see full figures for local area below).

Cases and infection rates in Devon are significantly below the average for England; only Plymouth has an infection rate higher than the average for the South West, which is the region with the lowest infection rate in England.

In terms of infection rates per age range, case rates are highest in the 20-39s across most areas of Devon and Cornwall.

The number of patients in hospitals across Devon following a positive COVID-19 test has also continued to fall.

As of Tuesday, March 23, there were 34 patients across the county in hospital after a positive test, down on the 47 as of the previous Tuesday. This is the lowest figure since early October.

In total, there were 21 patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (down from 24 as of March 16), 6 at Torbay Hospital (down from 8), 6 in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (down from 16), and 1 at North Devon District Hospital (up from 0).

And the number of patients in mechanical ventilation beds across the two counties is down as well to 6, from 10 the previous week, with three in Exeter and three in Plymouth.

In the last week, there have been four deaths in Devon hospitals of patients within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, with two in Exeter, one in Torbay, and one in Plymouth.

Nearly one million vaccines have now been administered across Devon and Cornwall.

The statistics, which provide the position as of March 21, show that there have been 638,544 vaccines delivered in Devon, with 593,532 of them being the first dose.

This means 59.4 per cent of adults in the county have been vaccinated once.

COVID-19 case numbers for Axminster area as of March 23:

Seaton - 11 (increase of 9 on the previous week)

Axminster - fewer than 3 cases (in small areas with fewer than three cases, full data is not provided to protect the identity of individuals).

Kilmington, Colyton & Uplyme - fewer than 3 cases

Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Marshwood Vale - fewer than 3 cases

Tatworth & Combe St Nicholas - fewer than 3 cases

Chard West - 9 (decrease of 3)

Chard North & East - fewer than 3 cases

Dunkeswell, Upottery & Stockland - fewer than 3 cases

Honiton North & East - fewer than 3 cases

Honiton South & West - fewer than 3 cases

Feniton & Whimple - fewer than 3 cases

Ottery St Mary & West Hill - fewer than 3 cases

Sidmouth Town - fewer than 3 cases

Sidmouth Sidford - 9 (increase of 1)

Poppleford, Otterton & Woodbury - fewer than 3 cases

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