Coronavirus: Devon marks one year on since the start of the lockdown
Exactly 12 months ago, Boris Johnson appeared on our TV and told us to 'stay at home'.
Last updated 23rd Mar 2021
It was exactly 12 months ago this evening when Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared on our television screens and told us we had to stay at home.
After weeks of what seemed like purgatory as we saw country after country go into Lockdown, England was plunged into the most drastic restrictions on everyday life since the Second World War.
Schools had already been closed, clubs, cafes, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, bookies and gyms had already had to shut their doors from midnight, and sporting fixtures had already been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
And then in the evening announcement, the Prime Minister announced the unprecedented lockdown measures in a dramatic night-time TV address, and for us to ‘stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives’.
In his speech, Brits were told we were only allowed out once a day to exercise – the first of what turned out to be many contradictions between the guidance and the law, which has never limited the amount and frequency of exercise – and there were only four reasons to leave home, when they were 13 when the legislation was put into place three days later.
And a year on, we are pretty much in the same position as we were on that fated day 12 months ago.
Clubs, cafes, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, non-essential retail, bookies and gyms are still closed, we are still told to stay at home except for a number of limited reasons, we are still working from home (and for some of us that sadly will be permanent)
There are still severe restrictions on our freedoms and our social activities, some industries have yet to reopen and won’t for several more months, and for much of the year, Devon’s streets have been emptied and its businesses shuttered, many families have lost loved ones.
Since the start of pandemic, across the county of Devon, 32,905 people have tested positive for Covid-19, and 1,033 people have died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test.
But despite the tragic toll that the last year has taken, it could have been so much worse.
Per population, at upper tier authority level, Plymouth has had the fewest deaths of anywhere in England, with Cornwall second, and Devon third.
At lower tier level, the South Hams is the lowest, with West Devon second, North Devon third, Torridge fifth, Plymouth sixth, Exeter ninth and Mid Devon 10th.
Tamerton Foilot, Teignmouth North, Barnstaple Sticklepath, and Dunkesewell, Upottery & Stockland have yet to see a death related to Covid-19 (as have Torpoint, Mid Saltash and the Isles of Scilly across the Tamar)
For cases, Devon has had the second-lowest overall infection rate (with Cornwall the lowest), and Torbay third, and Plymouth sixth. At a lower tier level, Torridge has the lowest infection rate in England (and is the only place yet still in three-figure for cases with 975), South Hams 2nd, North Devon 3rd, West Devon 4th, Teignbridge 5th, Cornwall 6th, Mid Devon 7th, and East Devon 9th in the bottom ten.
Of the areas that have gone longest since recording a cluster of three or more cases, nine of the top 12 are in Devon, with one in Cornwall and one being the Isles of Scilly.
Woolacombe, Georgeham & Croyde, Salcombe, Malborough & Thurlestone and Hartland Coast have gone nine weeks without a cluster of cases, with Bow, Lapford & Yeoford, Barnstaple Pilton, Bratton Fleming, Goodleigh & Kings Heanton, Starcross & Exminster, Tedburn, Shillingford & Higher Ashton and Winkleigh & High Bickington going eight weeks.
And as of last Sunday, more than 250,000 people in Cornwall and 500,000 in Devon have had their first Covid-19 vaccine – 54.9% of adults in Cornwall and 52.1% of adults in Devon – 59.8% in East Devon, 42.2% in Exeter, 73.8% in Isles of Scilly, 52.6% in Mid Devon, 56.6% in North Devon, 46.5% in Plymouth, 56.4% in South Hams, 57.1% in Teignbridge, 58.2% in Torbay, 57.3% in Torridge and 60% in West Devon – numbers that will have risen over the last week.
Devon’s Director of Public Health Steve Brown has said that since the vaccination programme began, the numbers of people with coronavirus needing hospital treatment or dying have reduced significantly, but ‘no vaccine is one hundred per cent effective’
The latest research shows that the vaccine gives about an 80 per cent protection against needing treatment in hospital, and an 85 per cent protection from dying from coronavirus.
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health for Devon, said: "“There will still be people who catch coronavirus, and particularly those most vulnerable – the elderly and those who have clinical risk – who will potentially get coronavirus and still become seriously ill.
“We are going to continue to get small outbreaks in settings such as care homes, workplaces and schools. But whenever we get an outbreak, the response is quick and swift.
“Agencies (including Public Health Devon, Devon County Council, NHS Devon, Public Health England) come together. We look at how we can put in additional resources, such as additional staff or other appropriate resources, and we step up the cleaning regime for example.
“Such measures are designed to protect and safeguard those people in that setting, and to try to reduce any onward transmission.
“Even when you’ve been vaccinated, it’s still really important that you continue to adopt public health measures – stay at home. If you do need to go out, make sure that you keep social distancing, wear those face coverings when indoors in public spaces, and wash your hands regularly.”
To reflect on the timeline over the past year click here