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At the end of the 5th week of lockdown 3, and lots of promising news to bring you this week, and virtually every single indicator of what is happening with the pandemic is moving in the direction that we want it to
The number of coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall has fallen by a third in the previous seven days for the second week in a row, with declines everywhere. (although some areas only by a handful of cases)
A total of 1,547 new cases were confirmed across the two counties in the last week as the total for the two counties now stands at 42,935 – the weekly total is the lowest total for seven weeks.
Government statistics show that 1,547 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 2,327 new cases confirmed last week.
Of the 1,547 cases confirmed since January 29, 592 were in Cornwall, with 108 in East Devon, 51 in Exeter, 105 in Mid Devon, 27 in North Devon, 242 in Plymouth, 55 in South Hams, 114 in Teignbridge, 203 in Torbay, 11 in Torridge and 39 in West Devon
This compared to 2,327 cases confirmed between January 23 and 29 of which 1,005 were in Cornwall, with 152 in East Devon, 110 in Exeter, 107 in Mid Devon, 51 in North Devon, 382 in Plymouth, 80 in South Hams, 137 in Teignbridge, 211 in Torbay, 30 in Torridge and 62 in West Devon
By specimen date though, not everywhere is seeing cases fall, with Mid Devon, Teignbridge and Torbay seeing case rate flat or slightly up. Charts for East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon and North Devon
And South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon
And Cornwall, Plymouth, Torbay and Devon
A total of 1,152 of the cases have a specimen date between Jan 29 and Feb 4, with 439 in Cornwall, 65 in East Devon, 38 in Exeter, 83 in Mid Devon, 19 in North Devon, 180 in Plymouth, 36 in South Hams, 87 in Teignbridge, 164 in Torbay, 9 in Torridge and 33 in West Devon.
Torridge is the area in England with the lowest infection rate (35/100,000), with North Devon second (39/100,000), Exeter third (56/100,000), West Devon fourth (74/100,000), South Hams fifth (78/100,000), East Devon seventh (96/100,000), Teignbridge ninth (100/100,000)...
Plymouth’s is 13th at 116/100,000, with Mid Devon 14th at 119/100,000, Cornwall at 34th at 151/100,000 and Torbay 49th at 170/100,000 out of 315 areas. At upper tier level, Devon has the lowest infection rate in England at 77/100,000
Latest positivity rates for tests carried out at 5% in Cornwall, 3.4% in East Devon, 2.5% in Exeter, 4.7% in Mid Devon, 1.4% in North Devon, 3.7% in Plymouth, 3.3% in South Hams, 3.2% in Teignbridge, 4.3% in Torbay, 1.1% in Torridge and 2.5% in West Devon. Only Torbay isn't down
The number of patients in Devon’s hospitals following a positive Covid-19 test has fallen by nearly 20 per cent in the last week – as beds occupied remain the lowest in England - more information on that in the story here - https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/number-covid-patients-devon-hospitals-4968048
In the last week, there have been 30 deaths in Devon and Cornwall hospitals of patients within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test, with 10 at Derriford, 10 in Cornwall, five in Exeter, three in North Devon and two in Torbay. Last week saw 73 deaths for the same reporting period.
In terms of the latest MSOA cluster maps, that cover the period of specimen dates between January 26 and January 31, there are 38 areas of Devon and Cornwall with between 0-2 cases, up from 23 as of last Friday
The MSOA areas in each region with the highest number of cases are Bodmin East (43), Kilmington, Colyton and Uplyme (24), Central Exeter (8), Willand, Sampford Peverell & Halberton (18), South Molton (6), Plympton St Mary (24), Totnes Town (14), Newton Abbot, Town Centre (18),
Ellacombe (27), Shebbear, Cookworthy & Broadheath (11) and Tavistock (12). On vaccines, more than 200,000 people in Devon have had their first Covid-19 vaccine, the highest in the South West, latest NHS England figures show.
The figures for Devon from Sunday, which will have risen in the most recent days, are the highest number of vaccinations for any of the regions within the South West, and they show that 20.5 per cent of the population had received their first jab.
More on the vaccine rollout in Devon here, as while the percentage of over 80s having had a vaccine in Devon is lower than elsewhere in the South West, the number over 80s is a lot higher - https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/one-five-people-devon-now-4967399
In terms of infection rates per age range, case rates are highest in the 20-39 age ranges across Devon and Cornwall, with the over 80s having the second highest infection rates, but they are falling in all ages ranges
Plymouth, Cornwall, Torbay and Teignbridge still have the over 80s as the highest infection rates, with, East Devon, Mid Devon, South Hams, Torridge and West Devon in the 20-39s, and Exeter and North Devon in the 40-59s.
Age ranges for East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon and North Devon
And South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon
And Cornwall, Torbay, Plymouth and Devon
Usual caveats about only being the reported figures, but everything seems to be heading in the right direction and continuing to fall at a decent rate (down 1/3 two weeks in a row). Full clusters and information will be in the story that follows shortly
And Friday's figures see 215 new coronavirus cases in Devon and Cornwall. 90 in Cornwall, 9 in East Devon, 3 in Exeter, 18 in Mid Devon, 5 in North Devon, 33 in Plymouth, 9 in South Hams, 13 in Teignbridge, 21 in Torbay, 2 in Torridge and 12 in West Devon
Covid cases in Devon and Cornwall fall by a third for second week running http://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/covid-cases-devon-cornwall-fall-4972864
Saturday's figures show 209 new coronavirus cases confirmed in Devon and Cornwall. 65 in Cornwall, 10 in East Devon, 4 in Exeter, 18 in Mid Devon, 5 in North Devon, 37 in Plymouth, 9 in South Hams, 26 in Teignbridge, 32 in Torbay,
2 in Torridge and 1 in West Devon
2 in Torridge and 1 in West Devon
Down from the 299 as of last Saturday, and with Ryedale seeing a slight rise today, the six areas with the lowest infection rates in England are now in Devon. Infection rate for Devon (70/100,000) is the lowest it has been since October 21.
Sunday's figures see 190 new coronavirus cases confirmed in Devon and Cornwall. 52 in Cornwall, 17 in East Devon, 11 in Exeter, 27 in Mid Devon, 1 in North Devon, 25 in Plymouth, 7 in South Hams, 13 in Teignbridge, 29 in Torbay, 3 in Torridge and 5 in West Devon
Down from the 273 last Sunday, and Plymouth's infection rate has now dipped below the 100 per 100,000 mark. Devon's rate, still the lowest in England, is now at 66.4/100,000, which is the lowest it has been at since October 2.
North Devon and Torridge both getting close to the illusive 'no clusters' club with only two areas reporting more than 2 cases in the last seven days - Ilfracombe East and Barnstaple Central, and Shebbear, Cookworthy & Broadheath and Bideford South & East respectively
And in that seven day period in Torridge (Jan 27-Feb 2), no-one aged 5-19, 40-59 or 70+ has tested positive for Covid-19. For North Devon, 0-9, 15-19, 30-34, 55-64 and 85+ are the ages without a case being confirmed.
Monday's figures show 197 new coronavirus cases confirmed in Devon and Cornwall. 78 in Cornwall, 15 in East Devon, 11 in Exeter, 21 in Mid Devon, 2 in North Devon, 27 in Plymouth, 6 in South Hams, 17 in Teignbridge, 18 in Torbay, 2 in Torridge and 0 in West Devon
Down from the 303 from last Monday. The 7 lowest infection rates in England are now in Devon, with Plymouth also in the bottom 10 (Mid Devon and Torbay aren't). Torridge's infection rate has fallen down to 14.6/100,000, although it will rise slightly tomorrow
Cornwall's rates are down to 101/100,000, which is the lowest since Christmas Eve. Where cases have ticked up again in Mid Devon, it seems to be around Tiverton where the cases are going up, with the 25-34 and the over 90s the ages in Mid Devon sees infection rates rise most
Tuesday is ONS deaths day, and the latest figures show that more than 30 per cent deaths of all deaths registered across Devon and Cornwall where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, since the pandemic began, have occurred in 2021
A total of 1,380 deaths from coronavirus have been registered across Devon and Cornwall in the Office of National Statistics, with 964 of them occurring in 2020 and 416 in January 2021.
The two deadliest weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic have both occurred this month, with 147 deaths in the week between January 16-22, and 138 from the week of January 23-29 so far.
The figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which relate to the week of January 23 to January 29, but registered up to February 6, show that 138 of the 458 deaths registered in the two counties had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
The deaths are likely to relate to infections contracted prior to the third national lockdown being implemented, the effect of the vaccine rollout, and the subsequent rapid reduction in newly confirmed cases which we have seen in recent weeks.
Of the 138 deaths registered in week 4 (Jan 23-Jan 29), there were 49 deaths of people from Cornwall, 19 in Plymouth, 17 from Teignbridge, 17 in East Devon, 9 in Torbay, 7 in South Hams, 6 in Exeter, 6 in North Devon, 4 in Mid Devon, 2 in Torridge and 2 in West Devon.
No deaths in the Isles of Scilly were registered, and 67 of the deaths occurred in care homes, 66 in hospitals, with five at home, and one in a hospice.
A further 19 deaths from week 3 (Jan 16-22) have been backdated into the figures this week, with six deaths in Cornwall, three in Plymouth, East Devon, and Teignbridge, and one in Torridge and Torbay, and two deaths from week 2 (Jan 9-15), one in Plymouth and Cornwall.
Previous weeks have seen 147, 78, 54, 32, 46, 48, 52, 43, 43, 37, 24, 11, 13, 15, 6, 5, 2, 0, 3, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 5, 1, 7, 10, 11, 15, 38, 44, 70, 85, 107, 90, 60, 16 and nine deaths registered.
In total, 1,380 deaths from coronavirus have been registered across Devon and Cornwall, with 777 in hospitals, 507 in care homes, 87 at home, two in a hospice, three in a communal establishment and four ‘elsewhere’.
Of the deaths, 404 have been registered in Cornwall, 183 in Plymouth, 176 in East Devon, 137 in Torbay, 110 in Exeter, 102 in Teignbridge, 69 in Mid Devon, 66 in North Devon, 50 in Torridge, 47 in the South Hams and 35 in West Devon, and none on the Isles of Scilly.
So far in 2021, there have been 142 deaths in Cornwall, 52 in East Devon, 44 in Plymouth, 42 in Teignbridge, 37 in Exeter, 29 in Torbay, 23 in South Hams, 21 in Mid Devon, 10 in North Devon, 9 in Torridge and 7 in West Devon.
There were 74 deaths in Devon and Cornwall’s hospitals within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test in the period between January 23 and 29, eight higher than the ONS figures.
While the two measurements do not compare exact like-for-like details, it means that at least eight of the deaths in the NHS England figures either were people from outside Devon and Cornwall, or Covid-19 did not contribute to their death.
Nearly a third of all Covid deaths in Devon were this year https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/nearly-third-covid-deaths-devon-4982806
A couple of notes from the latest Health Service Journal figures about Covid bed occupancy in hospitals - Devon is no longer the region with the lowest bed occupancy as Lincolnshire has dropped below it, but Devon's percentage has fallen in the last week
North Devon continues to have the lowest percentage occupancy of Covid patients in England, now at just 1% of all adult acute beds, and Plymouth, Exeter and Cornwall also saw the share fall in the last week.
Torbay though has seen a rise - the biggest in England - with the number of patients up by seven per cent in the last week, but from a very low base, as it's share of occupied acute beds is still at just seven per cent and the equal second lowest (with Plymouth and Yeovil)
Tuesday's figures see 138 new coronavirus cases confirmed in Devon and Cornwall. 60 in Cornwall, 8 in East Devon, 12 in Exeter, 7 in Mid Devon, 4 in North Devon, 13 in Plymouth, 3 in South Hams, 15 in Teignbridge, 13 in Torbay, 3 in Torridge and 0 in West Devon
Actually slightly up on the 116 from last Tuesday, but that number was well down on what was expected and the Wednesday figure was well up, so nothing to be hugely worried about. Cornwall dips up the 100/100,000 infection rate as well today
Wednesday's figures see 120 new coronavirus cases confirmed in Devon and Cornwall. 49 in Cornwall, 10 in East Devon, 3 in Exeter, 10 in Mid Devon, 2 in North Devon, 10 in Plymouth, 5 in South Hams, 15 in Teignbridge, 15 in Torbay, 0 in Torridge and 1 in West Devon
Down from the 213 as of last Wednesday and is the second lowest figure in the past four months. At upper tier level, Devon keeps its lowest infection rate title, but Plymouth now has the 2nd lowest rate, and Cornwall 3rd lowest (Torbay is 14th)
Thursday is vaccine latest day, and nearly 300,000 people in Devon – more than a quarter of the population - have had their first Covid-19 vaccine, latest NHS England figures show.
The statistics, which provide the position as of February 7, show that there have been 284,342 vaccinations in the county, with 271,603 of them being the first dose. Just under 70,000 vaccinations were carried out in that seven day period.
The figures for Devon, which will have risen, are the highest number of vaccinations for any of the regions within the South West – double that of Cornwall - and they show that 27.1% of the population had received their first jab. This is up on the 20.5% as of Jan 31.
Thursday morning’s Team Devon Local Outbreak Engagement Board meeting heard the number was now just under 300,000 of the estimated adult population of the Devon STP area being 999,049 having had their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine
The statistics show that as of Sunday, of the 79,525 estimated population of over 80s within Devon, 76,193 had received their first vaccine – a total of 95.8 per cent, with 10,897 – 13.7 per cent – having also had the second dose.
Of those aged 75-79, 54,074 people have received the first dose of the vaccine – an estimated 98.2 per cent of the cohort – while 42,785 of those aged 70-74, an estimated 53.8 per cent of the cohort – had as of Sunday had at least one dose.
And 98,551 under 70s, primarily those employed in health and social care settings, although some in the next cohorts from the priority list, had received the first dose of the vaccination as of Sunday – 12.5 per cent of the total under 70s.
Health chiefs say that they remain confident that all of those in the top 4 priority groups – all those in care homes, health and social care staff, and those over 70, will have at least been offered a vaccine by Monday, and that so far, 84% of them had received their first jab
Figures are based on the 2019 ONS estimated adult population, so may not be exact on what the current figures are, and Devon has a significantly higher number of over 80s than other regions do - but it does look like all those who want a vaccine will get it by the Feb 15 target
More than a quarter of Devon has now had vaccine https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/more-quarter-devon-now-vaccine-4993729
Thursday's figures show 165 new coronavirus cases for Devon and Cornwall. 65 in Cornwall, 16 in East Devon, 14 in Exeter, 12 in Mid Devon, 5 in North Devon, 13 in Plymouth,
3 in South Hams, 9 in Teignbridge, 25 in Torbay, 1 in Torridge and 2 in West Devon
3 in South Hams, 9 in Teignbridge, 25 in Torbay, 1 in Torridge and 2 in West Devon
And in hospitals latest, the number of patients in all of Devon’s hospitals following a positive Covid-19 test has fallen in the last week, with falls in all of the hospitals within the region - some to lowest levels since October
As of Tuesday morning, there were 195 patients occupying beds across the county after a positive test, down on the 254 as of the previous Tuesday, the second week in a row the number has dropped by more than 20 per cent.
In total, as of Tuesday, there were 41 patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (down from 58 as of Feb 2), 54 at the Nightingale (down from 57), 33 at Torbay Hospital (down from 35), 62 in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (down from 92).....
two at North Devon District Hospital (down from 8), and three in Devon Partnership NHS Trust units (down from four) although not all patients are local given some have been transferred to the region from elsewhere.
In Cornwall, the number of patients in hospital has fallen, down to 129 from the 149 as of last week. The figure for the RDE of 41 patients is the lowest figure since Nov 4, while the two in North Devon is the lowest number since October 13.
And the number of patients in mechanical ventilation beds across the two counties is down as well with 17 in Derriford, 6 at the RDE, three in Torbay, and one in North Devon, for a total of 27, down from 35 as of last Tuesday, while in Cornwall, the total remains unchanged at 14.
As a percentage of total acute beds available, 1% of beds in North Devon are occupied with Covid patients, 7% in Torbay, 7% in Plymouth, 13% in Exeter and 13% in Cornwall. All hospitals have seen a decrease, except for Torbay, but Torbay remains the joint 2nd lowest in England.
And based on patients, both covid and non-covid related, in adult critical care, as a share of total capacity last winter, every single hospital in Devon has a lower occupancy of capacity that last winter.
Figures from the Health Service Journal, whereby 100 per cent equals last winter’s capacity occupied, Derriford is at 95 per cent, Exeter at 76 per cent, North Devon at 63 per cent and Torbay at 30 per cent. Cornwall though is at 133 per cent.
As always, figures are people in hospital following a positive Covid-19 test, which is not necessarily that they are in hospital because of Covid - and with Devon having taken patients from elsewhere, it's figures may be slightly inflated because of this
