Covid cases across Devon remain among England's lowest

The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall last week was unchanged from the previous seven days, as infection rates remain among the lowest in England.

A total of 132 new cases were confirmed across the two counties for the second successive week – the total since the start of the pandemic stands at 48,551 – with Plymouth and Cornwall seeing an increase while cases in Devon have fallen.

The 132 though is still the second lowest weekly total since 154 were recorded in the week of September 6-12, with the week of August 30-September 5 was the last time the total was lower, when 96 cases were recorded.

Infection rates in Cornwall though of 2.8/100,000 are the lowest in England, and the lowest the county has been since late August, with Devon's rate of 7.7/100,000 also in the bottom ten and the lowest the county has been since early April and before step 2 of the roadmap.

Contrary to the rest of England, cases in Devon and Cornwall do not yet appear to be rising following the relaxation of restrictions under step 3, with only one person in hospital across the two counties.

Government stats show that 132 new cases have been confirmed across the region in the past seven days, compared to 132 new cases confirmed last week.

Of the 132 new cases confirmed since May 28, 27 were in Cornwall, with 8 in East Devon, 15 in Exeter, 9 in Mid Devon, 6 in North Devon, 34 in Plymouth, 6 in South Hams, 8 in Teignbridge, 13 in Torbay, 3 in Torridge and 3 in West Devon.

This compares to the 132 confirmed between May 22 and 28, of which 16 were in Cornwall, 7 in East Devon, 18 in Exeter, 9 in Mid Devon, 7 in North Devon, 24 in Plymouth, 18 in South Hams, 11 in Teignbridge, 13 in Torbay, 8 in Torridge and 1 in West Devon.

Latest Public Health England data shows that less than five cases in total of the Delta variant have been recorded in Cornwall, Plymouth, Torbay and Teignbridge, with five cases in Exeter.

East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, the South Hams, Torridge and West Devon have had no cases.

The statistics, which provide the position as of June 2 show that there have been 1,338,160 vaccines delivered in Devon, with 773,465 being a first dose, and 564,695 being a second dose.

Of this adult population, 79.3% in East Devon have had one dose.

And of this adult population, 58.9% in East Devon have had a second dose.

Infection rates are highest in the 20-39s in Devon, while in Cornwall, reflecting the overall low infection rates the county has, they are in the over 80s, but that equates to two cases, with infection rates in the 0-19s having fallen in both counties.

Nine of the 11 areas over the two counties saw no cases in the over 80s, with only two people in Cornwall, and one in Torridge in this age range tested positive in the last week.

At a district level, infection rates in Exeter, the South Hams and Torridge are highest in the 0-19s, with Torbay, Plymouth and Mid Devon in the 20-39s, and East Devon, North Devon, Teignbridge and West Devon in the 40-59s.

No cases in the 0-19s in North Devon and West Devon, 20-39s in West Devon, 40-59s in the South Hams, 60-79s in East Devon and Torridge, and the over 80s everywhere bar Cornwall and Torridge were recorded from specimens from May 23-29.

It comes as there are no patients in hospitals in Cornwall following a positive Covid-19 test – for the first time since August – and just one patient in Devon.

In terms of the latest cluster maps, that cover the period of specimen dates between May 24-30, there are 222 areas of Devon and Cornwall with between 0-2 cases, with only eight areas reporting three or more cases.

The areas with clusters of three or more cases are Devonport, Mount Wise and Morice Town (5), Pennsylvania and University (4), Shiphay and the Willows (4), Chillington, Torcross and Stoke Fleming (4), Dartmouth (4), Plymstock Elburton (4), Preston & Shorton (3), and Lipson (3).

No area of Cornwall, East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, Teignbridge, Torridge, West Devon or the Isles of Scilly reported more than three cases.

It comes as more than three quarters of adults in Devon and Cornwall have had their first Covid-19 vaccine, with and more than half have had both doses.