Over 100 new coronavirus cases in Devon and Cornwall

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

Government statistics show that 102 new cases have been confirmed across the region in the past seven days, both in Pillar 1 data from testing conducted by the NHS and Pillar 2 data from trading partners, compared to the 42 new cases confirmed last week.

It is the highest number of new confirmed cases since the end of May, and follows an outbreak of 11 cases in Plymouth after the teens returned from Zante.

But the number of people hospitalized throughout the Southwest has dropped to just 13, the lowest number since the numbers began to be recorded in April.

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

However, not all 102 sample-related cases date from the last week, and the only case in West Devon occurred on August 1, but was only confirmed this week. Only 70 of the cases had a sample date between August 21 and 27, and 11 of the 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 date back to early August, most falling in the week of August 14-20, but some occurred since August 1.

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

Of the cases with a sample date of August 18-25, there are currently six clusters in Devon and none in Plymouth, where three or more cases have been confirmed in a Medium Overproduction Area (MSOA).

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

Two MSOA clusters from the past week, Honicknowle & Manadon in Plymouth and Seaton in East Devon, have disappeared from the daily updated map due to the cases occurring more than 10 days ago.

The increase in cases has been attributed to Devon residents returning home after trips abroad, having contracted the coronavirus infection while on vacation.

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

She added: “These cases show how vital it is that we all be more vigilant when we travel home or abroad. The NHS Test and Trace system has done its job very well here, and we are confident that the risk of infection in the community is very low as a result of residents doing the right thing and taking the right actions quickly.

“What it does show is that people should be very careful when traveling abroad and should continue to respect social distancing, wash their hands regularly, avoid crowded areas and wear face covers as directed.

“If people get sick with COVID-19 symptoms while away, they should avoid contact with other people as much as possible, be careful when you return from the airport, isolate yourself immediately when you return home, and call 111 for advice on the tests.

Fortunately, in this case, our international travelers have acted sensibly and followed this guide.

“People should be aware of the risks associated with any trip abroad and exercise caution when returning, and should be screened quickly if they feel ill.”

He added that the other recently confirmed COVID-19 cases in Devon are not connected, and said that in each case the necessary containment procedures have been quickly followed, adding: “We must remember, though not for a moment be complacent, that the The confirmed case rate in Devon remains very low. This is how we want it to stay. We’ll see the numbers go up and down, but we all need to focus on what we can do to keep those numbers low. “

In Plymouth, a group of 11 young people, all 18 or 19 years old, tested positive for COVID-19 after a vacation on the Greek island of Zante.

The teens, public health director Dr. Ruth Harrell confirmed, visited restaurants and pubs after returning home, but before realizing they had tested positive for the virus, and the majority had no or very severe symptoms. mild.

He added: “We know that some of these young people had no symptoms, so they continued as normal, including a night out in the bars and restaurants of Plymouth, until they realized the risk,” he said. “That means that more people could be infected.

“We are in contact with all the pubs and bars in the city to remind them of their front line role in stopping the spread of this virus. They need to help us protect the city. But she also needs everyone to help.

“If you think you’ve been in contact with someone who tested positive, you need to isolate yourself. If you have any symptoms, get tested and isolate. There are no two ways to avoid it. “

However, despite the increase in cases, the number of people hospitalized with coronavirus has continued to fall, and in the Southwest, the number has dropped from 17 last Friday to 13 today, the lowest number since April, when the numbers began. To be. collated.

The last death in a hospital in Devon and Cornwall occurred on June 29, and the latest figures produced today by 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.

Of the four deaths in July, one was in Cornwall on Pool & Illogan Highway, one in Plymouth on Higher Compton & Eggbuckland, one in Crediton in Mid Devon, and one in Horrabridge & Mary Tavy in West Devon, with only 0.6 percent of all deaths in the Southwest related to coronavirus.

The R rate for the Southwest is now estimated to be between 0.9 and 1.1, from 0.8 to 1.1, as of last week, but it covers a large geographic area and the low case numbers mean that estimates they are not strong enough to inform political decisions.

In total, Torridge has had 57 positive cases, West Devon 76, 110 in South Hams, 131 in North Devon, 224 in Mid Devon, 224 in Teignbridge, 248 in East Devon, 267 in Exeter, 304 in Torbay, 714 in Plymouth and 980 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

COVID-19 cases are identified by taking samples from people and sending these samples to laboratories across the UK for analysis. If the test is positive, it is a laboratory confirmed case.

Confirmed positive cases are compared to ONS geographic area codes using the home zip code of the person tested.

The data is now displayed by the date the person being tested was sampled and while it provides a useful analysis of the progression of cases over time, it means that the figures for the last few days can be incomplete.

Cases received from labs before 12:30 am are included in the counts published that day. While there may be new confirmed coronavirus cases or people who have tested positive, test results have not yet reached PHE to add to the dataset or were not received in time for the latest daily figures to be released.