THE number of people with covid in Devon has continued to increase across many areas, but by a lower amount than recent weeks.

Although the number of cases topped a thousand in Teignbridge.

In the week to Thursday, November 25, rates in Teignbridge rose by 78 to 1,009, an increase of 8.4 per cent. This gives Teignbridge a case rate of 747.2 per 100,000.

Plymouth and the Devon County Council area rose by eight and seven per cent respectively, while Torbay’s reduced by five per cent.

It means the county continues to have significantly higher rates of covid than the national average of 429 cases per 100,000 people. Plymouth and Torbay’s figures now stand at just over 600, with the Devon County Council area’s rate being 676.

Last month, Devon’s director of public health Steve Brown said there were a few reasons why North Devon and Torridge may be seeing such high rates, including ‘lower levels of infection-induced immunity’ due to lower case levels throughout much of the pandemic, and high levels of testing in Devon.

It comes as the new variant of concern, Omicron, prompted an update to government guidance, meaning all contacts of suspected Omicron cases must now self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of age or vaccination status. There are currently no confirmed cases of the variant in Devon.

Mr Brown added, in a statement on Monday: ‘We will learn more about the Omicron strain in the next few days, as cases spread and we see the impact that it is having on people’s health.

‘This latest variant is another reminder that this pandemic is not yet over.

‘The reintroduction of mandatory face coverings is good news, and we will wait to see what impact it has on case rates locally. Devon secondary schools have been advised to wear face covering in communal areas since the start of term so the national announcement is helpful to reinforce the local action.

‘We need everyone now to be extra careful.’

HOSPITALISATIONS

From the most recent data from Tuesday 23 November, 163 patients with covid are in Devon’s hospitals. Sixty-one are at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, 49 at the Royal Devon & Exeter, 21 in Torbay and 32 in North Devon.

Of the total number of patients, 16 are in ventilation beds.

DEATHS

Twenty-two more people died in the county within 28 days of testing positive for covid in the latest complete weekly period (up to Thursday 25 November). Fifteen were in the Devon County Council area, three in Torbay and four in Plymouth.

A total of 1,365 people in Devon (including Plymouth and Torbay) have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic began.

VACCINATIONS

The number of people aged 12 and over who have received at least one dose of a vaccine is 87 per cent in the Devon County Council area, 85 per cent in Torbay and 83 per cent in Plymouth.

The proportion of people who are fully vaccinated with both jabs is 81 per cent in Devon, 78 per cent in Torbay and 76 per cent in Plymouth.