THE lowest weekly number of deaths relating to coronavirus across Devon and Cornwall in 2021 has been recorded – with the figure for Devon alone the lowest since the start of November.

The figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which relate to the week of February 13 to 19, but registered up to February 27, show that 37 of the 375 deaths registered in the two counties had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.

The numbers have more than halved since last week when 81 were recorded, is the lowest single week total in 2021 so far, and the second lowest since the middle of November. The 16 deaths in Devon is the lowest total since the week ending November 6.

Of the 37 deaths registered in week 7 (Feb 13-19), there were 21 deaths of people from Cornwall, five from Plymouth, three from Mid Devon and Teignbridge, two from the South Hams, and one from Torbay, East Devon and Exeter. No deaths in the Isles of Scilly, North Devon, (for the second week running) Torridge or West Devon were registered

12 of deaths occurred in care homes, 24 in hospitals, with one at home.

The deaths were:

One death in a care home, one at home, and three in hospital of someone from Plymouth

One death in hospital of someone from Torbay

Eight deaths in a care home and 13 in hospital of someone from Cornwall

One death in a care home of someone in East Devon

One death in a care home of someone in Exeter

Three deaths in hospital of someone from Mid Devon

Two deaths in hospital of someone from South Hams

One death in a care home and two deaths in a hospital of someone from Teignbridge

A further six deaths from week 6 (Feb 6-12) have been added into the figures this week (4 in Cornwall, 2 in Plymouth) with one death from week 3 (Jan 16-22 in Teignbridge) added as well.