COVID latest figures: Cases more than double in East Devon

Nearly 2,000 new coronavirus cases were confirmed last week across Devon and Cornwall.

The total confirmed number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic has shot up to 12,001 across the two counties, according to figures released on Friday.

Government statistics show that 1,946 new cases were confirmed across the region last week in both pillar 1 data, from tests carried out by the NHS, and pillar 2 data, from commercial partners, compared to 1,662 new cases confirmed last week.

East Devon is one of the worst affected areas, where cases have more than doubled. This includes four cases in Axminster and four in Seaton.

Plymouth is still the area where the highest number of new cases were confirmed, but the total only rose by one compared to the previous week, while Exeter saw the exact same number of new cases as it did the previous week.

East Devon has now overtaken Exeter as the area within Devon County Council's boundaries where the most cases are.

Of the 1,946 new cases confirmed since October 30, 341 were in Cornwall, 207 in East Devon, 196 in Exeter, 73 in Mid Devon, 113 in North Devon, 427 in Plymouth, 79 in the South Hams, 103 in Teignbridge, 305 in Torbay, 41 in Torridge and 51 in West Devon.

This compares to the 1,662 new cases confirmed between October 24 and 30, which saw 311  in Cornwall, 124 in East Devon, 196 in Exeter, 52 in Mid Devon, 64 in North Devon, 426 in Plymouth, 76 in the South Hams, 117 in Teignbridge, 213 in Torbay, 35 in Torridge and 38 in West Devon.

Of the 1,946 new cases, 1,395 had a specimen date of between October 30 and November 5, there were 245 in Cornwall, 136 in East Devon, 136 in Exeter, 52 in Mid Devon, 86 in North Devon, 307 in Plymouth, 55 in the South Hams, 69 in Teignbridge, 241 in Torbay, 29 in Torridge and 39 in West Devon.

Maps by specimen date show cases are rising in East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, Torbay, Torridge and West Devon, while are trending fairly flat for Cornwall and Exeter, while Teignbridge and Plymouth are seeing slight falls.

The number of people in hospital in the South West has risen to 514 from 386 as of last week and there are currently 67 people on a mechanical ventilator.

Across Devon and Cornwall, those in hospital following a positive COVID-19 test has risen by 50 per cent in the last week.

The NHS England figures, released on Friday, give the latest details of the admissions and diagnoses of coronavirus patients by hospital trust.

They show that as of Tuesday, November 3, the most recent date the information is available for, there were 156 people in Devon's hospitals and six in Cornwall. This compares to 99 and four as of October 27's figures.

Of the 156 patients, there were 38 in Torbay Hospital (up from 33), 38 in Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (23), 16 in North Devon District Hospital (11), 64 in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (32), six at the Royal Cornwall Hospital (4), but no-one in Cornish Partnership Trust hospitals.

And the numbers of patients in Mechanical Ventilation beds has doubled in the last seven days, with as of November 3, 18 patients, compared to nine as of October 27.

There was one patient in Torbay Hospital and the RD&E, two in the Royal Cornwall  Hospital, six in Derriford Hospital, and eight in North Devon District Hospital.

The figures show the amount of patients in hospital following a positive COVID-19 test who are currently occupying a bed.

In the last seven days, nine people have died in hospitals in Devon following a positive COVID-19 test, with one in Exeter, three in Torbay, and five in Plymouth.

But NHS 111 data for Devon and Cornwall is down slightly based on last Friday, and the R Rate for the South West has fallen from 1.2-1.5 to 1.2-1.4.

The latest figures were released as Devon's Director of Public Health, Dr Virginia Pearson, made an appeal for one more effort and urging everyone to "act now to stop the virus in its tracks" and help prevent local health services from being overwhelmed this winter.

"Local people and businesses made huge sacrifices during the first lockdown and this really helped to keep the number of COVID-19 cases and related deaths down in the county," said Dr Pearson.

"We now need to come together again with one more big effort to help stop the second wave of the virus in its tracks. So please, keep alert to risk at all times. Follow the rules, use common sense and keep yourself and your family safe by not dropping your guard."

Case numbers for East Devon areas were listed as follows:

- Cranbrook, Broadclyst & Stoke Canon - 21

- Clyst, Exton & Lympstone - 17

- Exmouth Brixington - 15

- Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh - 12

- Sidmouth Town - 9

- Exmouth Halsdon - 9

- Poppleford, Otterton & Woodbury - 8

- Exmouth Town - 8

- Feniton & Whimple - 7

- Kilmington, Colyton & Uplyme - 7

- Exmouth Littleham - 7

- Dunkeswell, Upottery & Stockland - 4

- Honiton South & West - 4

- Axminster - 4

- Ottery St Mary & West Hill - 4

- Sidbury, Offwell & Beer - 4

- Seaton - 4

- Budleigh Salterton - 4

- Honiton North & East - 3

- Sidmouth Sidford - 0