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Exeter has freed itself from the strictest lockdown restrictions because the large number of coronavirus cases is largely confined to its student population.
The city awaited confirmation of its fate on Monday afternoon when the Prime Minister announced details of the new three-tier system of government. Still waiting to see if it will drop to Level 1 or Level 2. Here’s what they would entail.
It was speculated that Exeter faced inclusion in the most severe Covid alert level: Level 3. Speculation that even attracted the ire of Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw. That would have meant the closure of some pubs and bars, as well as restrictions on household mixing. The Liverpool region has been placed on the highest alert level.
But as the Devon Director of Public Health explained last week, Exeter is not in the territory for the local Level 3 lockdown.
The main reason is that so far there has not been a large-scale spread of COVID from student areas to the general population.
The latest figures from Public Health England also show a sharp drop in cases in Exeter.
Last week, Exeter was pushed to the top 20 areas in England in terms of infection rates, and its rate went from 56.3 per 100,000 people to 262.5 in just seven days.
The Pennsylvania and University pavilion was also in the top 10 England pavilions by cases.
But with the overwhelming majority of cases linked to the University, and yet to spread to the community, Dr Virginia Pearson, Devon’s Director of Public Health, said the city still does not face broader lockdown measures, but once again he has urged people to stick to the rules.
College students have been asked not to mingle indoors with anyone who is not part of their home; the only exceptions to this are for study, work, organized sport or in an emergency situation where people are in danger, and additional capacity for testing has been established. organized on campus.
The Pennsylvania area and the University of Exeter jumped into the top ten of areas in England with positive cases of Covid-19 with an increase from 127 to 223 cases in the latest figures, with another 55 cases in Central Exeter and 30 in St James’s Park. . & Hoopern. The numbers are still high.
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But Devon County Council and public health officials have said the recent increase is largely limited to dorm rooms and shared houses.
The University says they continue to assess the situation on a daily basis and, by working closely with PHE colleagues, they know that the majority of those cases in Exeter are from the university and there is as yet no evidence of transmission to the university. community in general.
It is also understood that the tests requested by university students has also decreased this week compared to the end of last week.
Dr Pearson said: “Exeter has seen a recent sharp increase in cases, the majority of which are in the college student population. The outbreak is currently contained, so Exeter is not in the territory for a general lockdown within the city at this time.
“What is happening in Exeter is not unexpected and has been planned. Exeter is now experiencing what is being seen at other universities across the country.
“We constantly monitor positive cases so that we can respond quickly, through daily meetings with the University of Exeter, Exeter College, Public Health England, Exeter City Council and the Police.
“The University has a comprehensive set of measures in place to reduce transmission among its population of students and staff, and its planning has allowed early visibility of the problem and enabled a rapid response.
“Other partner agencies are also working hard in the city and in communities across the county to help local businesses continue to comply with national restrictions.
“More generally, Devon County has been very successful so far in keeping the number of confirmed cases low, with levels quite stable despite the cases in Exeter.
“However, it is a changing situation and we cannot for a moment become complacent.”
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