Number of new Covid cases across Devon and Cornwall is the highest since mid-January
Over the last week over 1,800 people have tested positive across the two counties
The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall in the last week is the highest since mid-January.
A total of 1,801 new cases were confirmed across the two counties for the second successive week – with the total since the start of the pandemic at 52,048 – with every single region bar one seeing a rise.
It is the highest weekly total since mid-January in terms of the number of new cases, although the number is only a third of what was seen in the January peak when 5,120 cases in a week were recorded.
However, for the second week running, West Devon saw fewer cases confirmed this week than the previous week, and despite the huge rising in infection rates, there are only nine people in hospital across the two counties, with only eight admissions in the last week.
In the week which followed the period when cases were last this high, there were 403 patients in hospital across Devon and Cornwall following a positive Covid-19 test, compared to just the nine as of Tuesday.
And Plymouth hasn’t seen a death since March 1, Torbay’s on March 21, with Cornwall’s last death on May 19, and Devon’s last death being on May 9 within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test.
Government stats show that 1,801 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 1,252 new cases confirmed last week.
Since June 18, of the 1,801 new cases confirmed 877 were in Cornwall, with 96 in East Devon, 238 in Exeter, 82 in Mid Devon, 44 in North Devon, 221 in Plymouth, 32 in South Hams, 53 in Teignbridge, 65 in Torbay, 82 in Torridge and 11 in West Devon.
This compares to the 1,252 cases in the week of June 11-17, of which, 750 were in Cornwall, 38 in East Devon, 123 in Exeter, 45 in Mid Devon, 31 in North Devon, 129 in Plymouth, 21 in South Hams, 42 in Teignbridge, 30 in Torbay, 31 in Torridge and 12 in West Devon.
Infection rates across Devon and Cornwall are highest in the 20-39s and then the 0-19s, with these age groups seeing the steepest rise, with a less of a rise in the 40-59s, and those aged 60+ only seeing a very slight increase.
In Devon’s districts, infection rates are highest in the 0-19s in Plymouth, Exeter, North Devon, Torridge and West Devon, with the 20-39s in Torbay, Teignbridge, East Devon, Mid Devon and South Hams having the highest infection rates.
From specimens between June 13-19, no-one over 80 in East Devon, Mid Devon, South Hams and Teignbridge has tested positive for coronavirus, with no-one over 60 in Torridge and West Devon recording a positive test.
But despite the large spike in cases, it has not yet translated into a rise in those going into hospital, with just nine patients across the two counties in beds as of Tuesday following a positive Covid-19 test.
The latest Government figures, which give the position as of Tuesday, June 22, show that across hospital trusts in the two counties, there are nine patients currently in hospital in the two counties – up from four as of June 15.
There are five in the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital – up from three last week, with only two admissions in the most recent week.
But there still have been no patients in the hospital in North Devon since April 3, while Torbay Hospital has been free of patients since April 13 – the only day since March 30 it housed a patient.
Derriford Hospital in Plymouth is also currently free of patients, with the sole patient admitted in the last week having been discharged on Friday.
Cornwall’s two hospital trusts currently have four patients in them as of Tuesday – all at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust – one of whom is in a mechanical ventilation bed, the only patient in the region who is.
The figures show how many patients are in hospital following a positive test for Covid-19, but not whether they were admitted for Covid-related reasons, whether they were infected inside the hospital, or whether their admission was entirely unrelated but they happened to have Covid at the same time.
And in terms of hospital deaths, the most recent was at the Royal Cornwall Trust on June 10 and at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital on May 9.
In terms of the latest MSOA cluster maps, that cover the period of specimen dates between June 14-20, there are 82 areas of Devon and Cornwall with between 0-2 cases, with 148 areas reporting three or more cases
The MSOA areas with clusters of 20 or more are Newquay East (71), Newquay West (62), St Ives & Halsetown (56), Falmouth East (50), Ponsanooth, Mabe Burnthouse & Constantine (47), Pennsylvania & University (46), Falmouth North (45), Penryn (43), Falmouth West & South (40), Towednack, Lelant & Carbis Bay (32), Mutley (27), St Columb Major & St Mawgan (26), Truro West (25), St Columb Minor & Porth (22), and Great Torrington (22).
The highest clusters in the regions across the rest of Devon are Cranbrook, Broadclyst & Stoke Canon (7), Tiverton North & Outer (19), South Molton (12), South Brent & Cornwood and Ivybridge (both 4), Starcross & Exminster (7), and Clifton & Maidenway (5). No area of West Devon or the Isles of Scilly reported three or more cases.
It comes as more than 80 per cent of adults in Devon and Cornwall have had their first Covid-19 vaccine, with around two thirds having had both doses.
The statistics, which provide the position as of June 23 show that there have been 1,491,892 vaccines delivered in Devon, with 843,635 being a first dose, and 649,257 being a second dose.
In Cornwall, 399,566 people have had a first dose (81.3 per cent of adults), with a 309,125 having had a second dose (62.9 per cent of adults).
The latest figures on the coronavirus dashboard, which calculate the total percentage of people aged 18 and over who have received a Covid-19 vaccination, are based on those who have an NHS number and currently are alive. The denominator used is the number of people on the National Immunisation Management Service (NIMS) database.
Of this adult population, 81.3% in Cornwall, 84.7% in East Devon, 68.5% in Exeter, 83% in Mid Devon, 81.7% in North Devon, 76.8% in Plymouth, 83.3% in South Hams, 85% in Teignbridge, 81.7% in Torbay, 83.9% in Torridge, and 85.3% in West Devon, have had one dose.
And of this adult population, 62.9% in Cornwall, 67.7% in East Devon, 47.9% in Exeter, 64% in Mid Devon, 63.4% in North Devon, 55.1% in Plymouth, 66.3% in South Hams, 67.1% in Teignbridge, 67.4% in Torbay, 67.6% in Torridge and 68.6% in West Devon, have had a second dose.