Coronavirus crisis: Sharp rise in new cases recorded in East Devon

The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed in the last seven days has risen across Devon and Cornwall - with a sharp rise recorded in East Devon.

Below are a list of 'clusters' - referring to three or more cases - in Honiton and the surrounding area.

Figures are as of October 23 covering October 13-19:

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

A large rise has been recorded across East Devon, with 15 clusters currently registered in the region.

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

A sharp fall in cases in Exeter has outweighed the rises elsewhere in the region, which has seen 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.

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.