Covid cases in Devon remain high, with more than one in 100 people in the county currently infected.

In the latest complete seven day period (to Sunday, 27 March) the Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay, recorded 10,223 new cases, 271 fewer than in the previous week. The 2.6 per cent fall takes the infection rate in the area to 1,261 per 100,000 of the population, 44 per cent higher than the national average of 874.

Plymouth has 1,405 cases per 100,000 after another increase in infections. The city’s 3,693 new cases represent a 306 (nine per cent) rise from the previous week.

Torbay’s 1,693 new infections mean a 10 per cent fall (195 cases) in the proportion of people getting covid compared to the previous week. The Bay’s infection rate is now 1,243 per 100,000. 

Covid tests are no longer freely available to most people, making it difficult to track case numbers accurately in future. 

Lateral flow tests are for sale at chemists and online, while PCR tests continue to be free for care home residents, hospital patients and other vulnerable groups, if they have symptoms of coronavirus.

Torbay Council will continue to provide free tests for a limited time to people visiting care homes, those caring for or visiting vulnerable relations in their own homes and volunteers.

Hospitalisations

As of the most recent data (from Tuesday 27 March) 425 patients were in Devon’s hospitals with covid, a 36 per cent rise in just two weeks.

At 133, Plymouth has the highest number of people in hospital with covid, closely followed by the RD&E in Exeter, which has 132. Torbay has 71 and north Devon 89. 

Across Devon, four patients are in mechanical ventilation beds.

Deaths

Deaths have risen in the most recent complete seven-day period (to Sunday 27 March). Twenty-five people died within 28 days of receiving a positive covid test across Devon, one more than in the previous week.

Sixteen people died in the Devon County Council area, five in Plymouth and four in Torbay.

Across Devon, a total of 1,721 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, with 85 per cent receiving both doses. Seventy-two per cent have now had a booster dose.

In Plymouth, 85 per cent have had one dose, while 81 per cent have had both. Sixty-two per cent have had the booster.

In Torbay, 86 per cent have received one dose, 82 per cent have had both jabs and 67 per cent have had three.

The national rates are 92, 86 and 68 per cent respectively.