1 in 100 people in Devon have Covid as cases rise
Covid cases in Devon continue to skyrocket, with almost one in 100 people in the county currently infected.
Last updated 19th Mar 2022
In the latest complete seven day period (to Sunday, 13 March) the county recorded 11,443 new cases, 4,926 more than in the previous week. The 76 per cent rise takes the infection rate across Devon to 943 per 100,000 of the population, 38 per cent higher than the national average of 685.
The Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay, recorded 7,747 cases, 80 per cent (3,453) more than the previous week. The jump in cases takes the area’s infection rate to 956 per 100,000.
Plymouth has 904 cases per 100,000 after a spike in infections. The city’s 2,375 new cases represent a 977 (70 per cent) rise on than the previous week.
Torbay’s 1,321 new infections represent a sharp 60 per cent (495) increase compared to the previous week. The infection rate is now 970 per 100,000.
More than 1,000 NHS staff are off work in Devon as a result of “covid-related problems,” Dr Paul Johnson from the NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group revealed this week.
He said a recent increase in cases is impacting the county’s health service.
But Dr Johnson said infections are not leading to a rise in the number of people getting seriously ill with coronavirus, but it makes giving certain patients specialist nursing and medical care “more difficult.”
Hospitalisations
As of Tuesday 15 March, 273 patients were in Devon’s hospitals with covid, 57 more than the previous week.
At 111, Plymouth has the highest number of infected people in hospital. Elsewhere, 89 patients with covid are in the RD&E in Exeter, while Torbay has 40 and north Devon 33.
Across Devon, four patients are in mechanical ventilation beds, one fewer than the previous week.
Deaths
Deaths have risen in the seven-day period to Sunday 13 March. Sixteen people died within 28 days of receiving a positive covid test across Devon, six more than in the previous week.
Nine people died in the Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay. Four deaths were recorded in Torbay and three in Plymouth.
Across Devon, a total of 1,636 people have now died within 28 days of a positive covid test.
Vaccinations
Eighty-nine per cent of people aged 12 and above have had their first dose of a vaccine in the Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay, with 85 per cent receiving both doses. Seventy-one per cent have now had their ‘booster’ dose.
In Plymouth, 85 per cent have had one dose, while 80 per cent have had both. Sixty-one per cent have had the booster.
In Torbay, 86 per cent have received one dose, while 82 per cent have had both jabs. Sixty-six per cent have had their third vaccine.
The national rates are 92, 86 and 67 per cent respectively.