COVID-19: Local case rates at lowest point for months

The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall last week fell again to its lowest level since early September.

A total of 163 new cases were confirmed across the two counties last week, compared to 176 the previous week – the lowest number since the week ending September 12 – with the total cases since the start of the pandemic now standing at 47,461.

Of the 163 new cases confirmed since April 9, 54 were in Cornwall, with eight in East Devon, 14 in Exeter, 18 in Mid Devon, four in North Devon, 18 in Plymouth, four in South Hams, 18 in Teignbridge, 14 in Torbay, six in Torridge and five in West Devon.

Infection rates in Cornwall at an upper tier authority level are the second lowest anywhere in England – with only East Sussex lower.

Devon is fourth in the list with rates at 8.5 cases per 100,000 people – equivalent to the rates on September 20, with Plymouth's rate of 9.5 per 100,000 the lowest since August 27. 

Infection rates are highest in the 0-19s age group across Devon, although at a lower rate than when schools went back in March, with the 20-39s in Torbay and Plymouth having the highest infection rates, and the 40-59s in Cornwall.

At a district level, infection rates in East Devon, Mid Devon and South Hams are highest in the 0-19s age group, in Teignbridge in the 20-39s, in Exeter, North Devon and Torridge in the 40-59s, and in West Devon in the over 80s (one case of an over 95).

There has been an increase of one in the number of COVID patients in hospitals in Devon, up to 15 as of Tuesday, April 13 compared to 14 the previous week.

Derriford Hospital in Plymouth had three patients, the same as the previous week, while the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E) had 11 patients, also the same as the previous week.

North Devon District Hospital also remains unchanged with zero patients – a run of ten days straight now – while Torbay Hospital saw one patient admitted on Monday, April 13, breaking a run of 13 successive days with no COVID-19 patients.

The number of patients in mechanical ventilation beds across Devon and Cornwall is two, with both patients being at the RD&E.

In the last week, there has been two deaths in Devon and Cornwall hospitals of patients within 28 days of a positive COVID* 19 test, both in Exeter.  

The latest figures show that two thirds of Devon's adults have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and nearly one in seven adults in Devon have had a second dose, with the position very similar in Cornwall.

The statistics, which provide the position as of April 11, show that there have been 1,186,586 vaccines delivered in the two counties, with 966,579 of them being the first dose.

In Devon, 654,261 people have had their first dose, with 144,591 of them having also had a second dose, while in Cornwall, 312,318 people have had their first dose, with 75,416 a second dose.

It means that in Devon, 65.5 per cent of adults have had at least one vaccine dose, with 14.5 per cent of adults having had a second dose, These figures will have risen in the most recent days.

COVID-19 case numbers for Seaton area as of April 13:

As of April 13, there were fewer than three confirmed cases of coronavirus in Seaton and all immediately surrounding areas.

In small areas with fewer than three cases, full data is not provided to protect the identity of individuals.

Surrounding areas which also have fewer than three cases include Axminster; Kilmington, Colyton & Uplyme; Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Marshwood Vale; Tatworth & Combe St Nicholas; Chard North & East; Chard West; Dunkeswell, Upottery & Stockland; Honiton North & East; Honiton South & West; Feniton & Whimple; Ottery St Mary & West Hill; Sidbury, Offwell & Beer; Sidmouth Town; Sidmouth Sidford; Poppleford, Otterton & Woodbury.

The closest areas that had more than three cases are Middlemoor & Sowton in Exeter (4 cases), and Charlton Down, Cerne Abbas & Puddletown in West Dorset (4 cases).

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