COVID cases have risen in every area of Devon apart from West Devon, with a notable increase in Torridge.

Government figures for the week to Thursday, November 11, show cases increased by just over 20 per cent in the Devon County Council area, with smaller rises in Plymouth and Torbay.

The number of cases per 100,000 people in Devon now stands at 542, a jump of 100 in a week, while the figures in Torbay and Plymouth are 516 and 453 respectively. By comparison, the UK average is now 376.

Of the county’s eight district areas, all but West Devon recorded rises. Torridge had by far the biggest increase, with cases going up by 88 per cent in the past week. At 713, its infection rate is now the highest of all comparable districts in the south west.

North Devon and Teignbridge also saw significant rises in cases, by 34 and 25 per cent respectively, meaning their rates of infection are well in excess of the national average.

Teignbridge saw 767 cases, a rise of 152. This makes the case rate is 568 per 100,000.

However, the higher-than-average rate is mirrored across the county, with all districts coming above the UK-wide figure. South Hams narrowly has the lowest rate in Devon at 450 cases per 100,000.

The increase across much of the county comes as case rates amongst all age groups have gone up in the past few days of available data.

Infections amongst 0–19-year-olds in Devon, the group which has by far the highest proportion of cases, had gone down to a rate of 705 but it’s since risen to 830, while the chart also shows a steady rise in cases continuing in 20-39 year-olds.

HOSPITALISATIONS

Latest figures for Tuesday, November 2, show 127 covid patients in the county’s hospitals – a fall of two on last week’s total.

There are 49 patients at Derriford in Plymouth, 44 at the RD&E in Exeter, 21 in Torbay and 13. Of the total number of patients, 13 are on mechanical ventilation beds.

DEATHS

Eighteen more people died in the county within 28 days of testing positive for covid in the latest complete weekly period (up to Wednesday 10 November). Eleven were in the Devon County Council area, three in Torbay and four in Plymouth.

A total of 1,326 people in Devon (including Plymouth and Torbay) have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic began.

VACCINATIONS

Vaccination percentages now include those aged 12 and over. The number who have received at least one dose of a vaccine is 86 per cent in the Devon County Council area, 84 per cent in Torbay and 83 per cent in Plymouth.

The proportion of people who have had both jabs is 80 per cent in Devon, 78 per cent in Torbay and 75 per cent in Plymouth.