Coronavirus cases in Plymouth at their lowest since September
86 cases were recorded in Plymouth in the last week, down from 104 the week previous
The number of weekly number of coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall has dropped nearly 40 per cent and down to the lowest levels since mid-September
A total of 380 new cases were confirmed across the two counties in the last week – the lowest since the week ending September 25 – with the total since the start of the pandemic at 45,964
Cornwall has the second lowest infection rates of any upper tier authority in England, with Devon third, only behind the Isle of Wight, and at a lower tier level, the four of the five lowest infection rates are in Devon.
Government statistics show that 380 new cases have been confirmed across the region in the past seven days in both pillar 1 data from tests carried out by the NHS and pillar 2 data from commercial partners, compared to 650 new cases confirmed last week.
Of the 380 new cases confirmed since February 26, 78 were in Cornwall, with 67 in East Devon, 29 in Exeter, 23 in Mid Devon, 14 in North Devon, 86 in Plymouth, six in South Hams, 24 in Teignbridge, 41 in Torbay, six in Torridge and six in West Devon
This compared to the 650 new cases confirmed between February 19 and 25, of which 174 were in Cornwall, with 65 in East Devon, 70 in Exeter, 47 in Mid Devon, 22 in North Devon, 104 in Plymouth, 12 in South Hams, 37 in Teignbridge, 103 in Torbay, 10 in Torridge and six in West Devon.
A total of 308 of the cases in the past week have a specimen date between February 26 and March 4, with 63 in Cornwall, 56 in East Devon, 23 in Exeter, 21 in Mid Devon, 10 in North Devon, 71 in Plymouth, four in South Hams, 16 in Teignbridge, 33 in Torbay, six in Torridge and five in West Devon.
The latest positivity rates for tests carried out at 1% in Cornwall 1.3% in East Devon, 1.3% in Exeter, 1.2% in Mid Devon, 0.7% in North Devon, 1.2% in Plymouth, 0.5% in South Hams, 0.8% in Teignbridge, 1.1% in Torbay, 0.4% in Torridge and 0.3% in West Devon.
In terms of infection rates per age range, case rates are highest in the over 80s in Devon, although this figure is skewed due to a couple of care home outbreaks in East Devon and Mid Devon – areas that have over 80s with the highest infection rates.
Exeter has its highest infection rates in the 40-59 age range, while every other authority is seeing its highest figures in the 20-39s. But in Devon, no age group has an infection rate of more than 50/100,000.
The number of patients in all of Devon’s hospitals following a positive Covid-19 test has fallen to levels not seen since the middle of October – and more than halved in a week.
As of Tuesday morning (March 2), there were 43 patients across the county in hospital after a positive test, down on the 89 as of the previous Tuesday.
There are no patients at all in the Exeter Nightingale Hospital – with February 26 seeing its final patients discharged – and both the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Derriford Hospital both are at their lowest figure since October 19.
In total there were 12 patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (down from 22 as of Feb 23), zero at the Nightingale (down from 17), 10 at Torbay Hospital (down from 16), 18 in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (down from 32), two at North Devon District Hospital (unchanged), and one in Devon Partnership NHS Trust units (up from zero) although not all patients may not be local given some Devon’s hospital were providing mutual aid to others.
In the last week, there have been eight deaths in Devon and Cornwall hospitals of patients within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test, with three in Cornwall, three in Plymouth, one in Torbay, and one in North Devon.
In terms of the latest MSOA cluster maps, that cover the period of specimen dates between February 22 and February 28, there are 170 areas of Devon and Cornwall with between 0-2 cases, up from 128 as of last Friday
The MSOA areas in each region with the highest number of cases are Helston (eight), Exmouth Littleham (22), St James’s Park & Hoopern (12), Tiverton North & Outer (six), South Molton (six), Plymstock Hooe & Oreston (10), Dawlish South and Ogwell, Mile End & Teigngrace (both five), Brixham Town and Blatchcombe & Blagdon (seven), and Bideford South & East (three). No area of the South Hams or West Devon reported more than two cases.
It comes as Steve Brown, director of public health Devon, said that testing for coronavirus is going to be the cornerstone of our transition back to normal life.
He said: “Over coming weeks and months, we are going to see a lot more movement of people – students returning to education, more people getting back to work, the loosening of restrictions on how many people we can be in contact with, and in time shops, cafes, and other businesses reopening.
“Coronavirus thrives on socialisation, which is why we see case numbers fall during lockdown, when movement and socialising is restricted.
“Taking a test regularly – the rapid tests that give results within the hour – is going to be an absolutely vital part of our way out of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Local community testing sites are available to anyone who work or whose volunteering requires them to be in contact with other people. We are also encouraging parents of secondary school and college-age students to use the community testing centres, as well as people in support bubbles. The tests are very quick and easy to take and results are texted or emailed back to you within the hour.”
He added: “As restrictions do start to lift, it’s so important that we continue to follow the national lockdown measures and stay at home and only go out if it is absolutely essential. If you do go out, remember: wear your face covering when you’re in a public place indoors, keep social distance from one another, and wash your hands regularly.
“The vaccine is part of our way out of coronavirus. But not on its own or in isolation of the other prevention measures.”
The latest figures on vaccines show that more than half of all adults in East Devon, Torbay and West Devon have now had their first Covid-19 vaccine.
The statistics, which provide the position as of February 28, show that there have been 461,165 vaccines delivered in Devon, with 445,074 of them being the first dose. Just under 50,000 vaccinations were carried out in the last week.
Across the whole of Devon, which will have risen in the most recent days, are by far the highest number of vaccinations for any of the regions within the South West and they show that 44.5 per cent of the adult population had received their first jab. This is up on the 39.1 per cent as of February 21.
Of the adult population, 46.8 per cent in Cornwall, 52.6 per cent in East Devon, 35 per cent in Exeter, 46.8 per cent in the Isles of Scilly, 43.8 per cent in Mid Devon, 48.4 per cent in North Devon, 38.9 per cent in Plymouth, 48.6 per cent in South Hams, 48.5 per cent in Teignbridge, 50.2 per cent in Torbay, 48.9 per cent in Torridge, and 53.4 per cent in West Devon, have had one dose. These figures are as of February 28 and so will have risen in recent days.
The Covid-19 cases are identified by taking specimens from people and sending these specimens to laboratories around the UK to be tested. If the test is positive, this is a referred to as a lab-confirmed case.
Confirmed positive cases are matched to Office for National Statistics geographical area codes using the home postcode of the person tested.
Cases received from laboratories by 12.30am are included in the counts published that day. While there may have been new cases of coronavirus confirmed or people having tested positive, those test results either yet to reach Public Health England for adding to the dataset or were not received in time for the latest daily figures to be published.