Sharp rise in COVID-19 cases across East Devon

The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed in the last seven days has risen across Devon and Cornwall, although numbers in Seton remain relatively low.

East Devon has seen a sharp rise in cases, with 15 'clusters' - meaning areas which have three or more cases - in the local region.

The local clusters, covering the period October 13th to 19th, were listed as follows:

Dunkesewell, Upottery and Stockland: 4

Honiton North and East: 4

Honiton South and West: 0-2

Feniton and Whimple: 0-2

Axminster: 7

Ottery St Mary and West Hill: 3

Kilmington, Colyton and Uplyme: 4

Sidbury, Offwell and Beer: 0-2

Seaton: 0-2

Sidmouth Sidford: 4

Sidmouth Town: 3

In Exeter, cases are down by a third on last week, mainly driven by a reduction in cases linked to the university.

The sharp fall in cases in Exeter has outweighed the rise elsewhere in the region, with 13 fewer cases confirmed in the Devon County Council area compared with last week.

Of the 1,395 new cases, 116 were in East Devon. The region has seen a sharp rise by specimen date.

This compares to the 1,113 new cases from last week, of which 69 were in East Devon.

The number of people in hospital in the South West has risen to 248 from 151 as of last week and there are currently 21 people on a mechanical ventilator.

In total, East Devon has had 582 positive cases of coronavirus.

It comes as Steve Brown, the Deputy Director for Public Health Devon has confirmed that Exeter case numbers are now back to 'broadly' the national average.

He described the reduction in cases in Exeter as great news and testament to all the work that the university and colleagues have done.

"While the numbers are low in Devon at the moment, it's really important that we do all we can to maintain that," he said.