More than 100 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the last seven days across Devon and Cornwall.

Government statistics show that 102 new cases have been confirmed across the region in the past seven days in both pillar 1 data from tests carried out by the NHS and pillar 2 data from commercial partners, compared to 42 new cases confirmed last week.

It is the highest number of new cases confirmed since the end of May, and follows an outbreak of 11 cases in Plymouth following teenagers returning from Zante.

But the number of people in hospital in the whole of the South West has fallen to just 13 – the lowest number since figures began to be recorded in April.

Of the 102 new cases, 19 were in Cornwall, with nine in East Devon, nine in Exeter, nine in Mid Devon, six in North Devon, 21 in Plymouth, seven in the South Hams, seven in Teignbridge, 14 in Torbay, and one in West Devon. Torridge saw no new cases confirmed.

However, not all of the 102 cases related to specimen dates from the last week, with the sole case in West Devon having occurred back on August 1 but was only confirmed this week. Only 70 of the cases had a specimen date of between August 21-27, with 11 of Cornwall cases occurred in that period, with six in East Devon, five in Exeter, seven in Mid Devon, four in North Devon, seven in the South Hams, four in Teignbridge, 17 in Plymouth, and nine in Torbay.

The remaining cases dated back to earlier in August, with the majority falling in the week of August 14-20, but some having occurred as far back as August 1.

By specimen date, the most recent case in Cornwall, Plymouth, East Devon, Exeter, North Devon and Teignbridge is from August 26, from August 25 in Torbay and the South Hams, August 24 in Mid Devon, August 19 in Torridge, and August 10 in West Devon.

Of the cases with a specimen date of between August 18 and 25, there are currently six clusters in Devon and none in Plymouth where three of more cases have been confirmed in a Middle Super Output Areas (MSOA).

There is a cluster of five cases in Mutley in Plymouth, three in Peverell in Plymouth, four in Wellswood in Torbay, four in Teignmouth North in Teignbridge, three in Bradninch, Silverton and Thorverton in Mid Devon, and three in Cullompton. Every other MSOA region of Devon and Cornwall – small patches of around 7,200 average population – have had two or fewer cases in that time period.

Two MSOA clusters from last week – Honicknowle & Manadon in Plymouth and Seaton in East Devon – have dropped off the daily updated map due to the cases having occurred more than 10 days ago.

The rise in cases has been put down to Devon residents returning home from trips abroad, having contracted coronavirus infection while away on holiday.

Devon’s Director of Public Health, Dr Virginia Pearson, said they were picked up by the NHS Test and Trace programme on their return to the country, and all appropriate containment procedures, including self-isolation, have been followed.

She added: ‘These cases show how vital it is that we all remain extra vigilant when travelling at home or abroad. The NHS Test and Trace system has done its job here very well, and we’re confident that the risk of onward infection in the community is very low as a result of residents doing the right thing and taking the right actions quickly.’

In Plymouth, a group of 11 youngsters, all aged 18 or 19, testing positive for COVID-19 following a holiday in the Greek island of Zante.

The teens, it has been confirmed by director of public health Dr Ruth Harrell, visited restaurants and pubs after returning home but before they were aware they had tested positive for the virus, with most having no or very minor symptoms.

She added: ‘We know that some of these young people had no symptoms, and so carried on as normal, including a night out in Plymouth’s bars and restaurants, until they became aware of the risk,’ she said. ‘That means more people could be infected.

‘We are in contact with all the pubs and bars across the city to remind them of their frontline role in stopping the spread of this virus. They need to help us to protect the city. But it also needs everyone to help too.

‘If you think you’ve been in contact with someone who has tested positive, you need to self-isolate. If you get any symptoms, get tested as well as isolate. There’s no two ways round it.’

However, despite the rise in cases, the number of people in hospital with coronavirus has continued to fall, and in the South West, the figure has dropped from 17 last Friday, to 13 today – the lowest figure since April when numbers began to be collated.

The last death in a hospital in Devon and Cornwall occurred on June 29, and latest figures produced today from the ONS showed that only four people in the two counties had COVID-19 mentioned on the death certificate in July. That was down from 20 in June, 118 in May, 373 in April, and 53 in March.