The highest number of weekly coronavirus cases confirmed in the last seven days across Devon and Cornwall has been recorded – but most areas are now seeing cases fall.

More than 2,000 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the last seven days across the two counties, taking the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 15,982.

Cases has risen everywhere, except for Torbay and West Devon, but when looking at cases by specimen date rather than reported date, only North Devon is seeing a rise.

Government statistics show that 2,367 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 2,068 new cases confirmed last week.

Of the 2,367 new cases confirmed since November 13, 478 were in Cornwall, 244 in East Devon, 220 in Exeter, 79 in Mid Devon, 170 in North Devon, 597 in Plymouth, 89 in the South Hams, 108 in Teignbridge, 263 in Torbay, 66 in Torridge and 53 in West Devon.

This compares to the 2,068 new cases confirmed between November 6 and November 12, of which, 440 were in Cornwall, with 217 in East Devon, 189 in Exeter, 67 in Mid Devon, 108 in North Devon, 496 in Plymouth, 73 in the South Hams, 100 in Teignbridge, 270 in Torbay, 52 in Torridge and 56 in West Devon.

Of the 2,367 new cases, 1,539 had a specimen date between November 13 and 19, with 320 in Cornwall, 172 in East Devon, 153 in Exeter, 61 in Mid Devon, 103 in North Devon, 349 in Plymouth, 51 in South Hams, 65 in Teignbridge, 182 in Torbay, 50 in Torridge and 33 in West Devon.

Despite more new cases being confirmed this week, by specimen date, cases have fallen, and graphs by specimen date show cases are only rising in North Devon.

In Cornwall, Exeter, Mid Devon, South Hams and Teignbridge, cases are fairly flat, while they are currently decreasing in East Devon, Plymouth, Torridge, Torbay and West Devon.

The number of people in hospital in the South West has risen to 942 from 759, although has only risen by six in the last two days, while there are currently 65 patients in mechanical ventilation beds, up from 58 as of last Friday.

NHS England figures show that as of Tuesday morning, there were 265 patients across Devon and Cornwall, in hospital after a positive Covid-19 test. Of them, there are 106 in the Royal Devon and Exeter (up from 69), 90 in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (76), 18 in North Devon District Hospital (down from 19), 39 in Torbay Hospital (down from 43), four in Cornish Partnership Trust hospitals (3), six at the Royal Cornwall Hospital (4), and two beds in Livewell SouthWest facilities in Plymouth (4) taken up with patients after a positive Covid-19 test.

There are 19 patients in Mechanical Ventilation beds, up from 18, with one patient in Torbay Hospital, three at the RD&E, eight in Derriford Hospital, and seven in North Devon District Hospital, with none in Cornwall.

In total, Torridge has had 308 positive cases, West Devon 347, with 542 in the South Hams, 597 in Mid Devon, 709 in North Devon, 861, in Teignbridge, 1,301 in East Devon, 1,773 in Torbay, 2,428 in Exeter, 3,436 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and 3,680 in Plymouth.

The total though has only risen by 1,911 for Devon and Cornwall after 204 cases were reassigned to other local authorities this week, meaning everywhere except Torbay and Plymouth on Monday saw the total number of cases fall.

It comes as Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health has issued a new plea to residents, said: ‘There is cause for optimism, without doubt. The challenge to us all – my plea to you – is that we do not let our enthusiasm to return to normal actually set us further back.’