THE number of new coronavirus cases confirmed across Cornwall and Devon has nearly halved in the previous seven days – with cases falling everywhere.

The total is 1,266 – the lowest since the week ending October 16 – and Friday’s figure of 97 cases is the first ‘double figure’ total since October 2.

In all 11 regions of Devon and Cornwall, cases have fallen, with Cornwall, Plymouth, the South Hams and Torbay seeing a more than 50 per cent drop.

Government statistics show that 1,266 new cases have been confirmed across the region in the seven-day period up to Friday in both pillar 1 data from tests carried out by the NHS and pillar 2 data from commercial partners, compared to 2,367 new cases confirmed the previous week.

Of the 1,266 new cases confirmed since November 20, 232 were in Cornwall, with 180 in East Devon, 141 in Exeter, 59 in Mid Devon, 104 in North Devon, 231 in Plymouth, 33 in South Hams, 73 in Teignbridge, 119 in Torbay, 51 in Torridge and 43 in West Devon.

This compares to the 2,367 cases confirmed between November 14 and 20, of which 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.

Of the 1,266 new cases, 970 had a specimen date between November 20 and 26, with 171 in Cornwall, 152 in East Devon, 101 in Exeter, 40 in Mid Devon, 84 in North Devon, 179 in Plymouth, 25 in South Hams, 62 in Teignbridge, 86 in Torbay, 42 in Torridge and 28 in West Devon.

By specimen date, only Torridge isn’t seeing a fall in cases, although its total number of cases is one of the lowest in the region, and although East Devon and Teignbridge had seen a ‘one-day spike’ in their rolling averages, they are now falling again as well.

The number of people in hospital in the South West has fallen during the past week, standing at 938 on Friday compared to 942 seven days before, although there are currently 67 patients in mechanical ventilation beds, up from 65 as of the previous week.

The number of patients in hospital across Devon and Cornwall following a positive COVID-19 test has risen since last week – but only just.

NHS England figures show that as of Tuesday morning, November 24, there were 272 patients across Devon and Cornwall, in hospital after a positive COVID-19 test. This compares to 265 as of November 17.

But while the number of patients in the Royal Devon and Exeter, North Devon and Cornish hospitals has increased, Torbay Hospital has seen a decrease for the second week running, while Derriford Hospital has seen its number drop by more than 40 per cent.

The figures show there were 128 patients in the Royal Devon and Exeter (up from 106), 53 in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (down from 90), 35 in Torbay Hospital (down from 39), 29 in North Devon District Hospital (up from 18), nine at the Royal Cornwall Hospital (up from six), six in Cornish Partnership Trust hospitals (up from 4), while 11 beds at Livewell SouthWest facilities in Plymouth (up from 2) and one bed at Devon Partnership Trust facilities (up from 0) were also occupied.

There were 16 patients in Mechanical Ventilation beds, down from 19, with one patient in Torbay Hospital, five at the RD&E and North Devon District Hospital, and ten at Derriford Hospital, with none in Cornwall.

The figures show the amount of patients in hospital following a positive COVID-19 test who are currently occupying a bed.

But not every patient would necessarily have been admitted to hospital due to COVID-19, with a number of patients either contracting the virus inside the hospital, or being admitted for unrelated reasons but subsequently testing positive asymptotically when given routine tests.

In the past week up to Friday, there had been 21 deaths within hospitals in Devon and Cornwall within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, with nine in Exeter, two in Torbay, six in Plymouth, three in North Devon, and one in Cornwall.

And while NHS 111 data for Cornwall is slightly up on last week, Devon is down 25 per cent and at the lowest level since August 22, and the R-Rate for the South West has fallen to 0.9-1.1 from 1.0-1.3.

In terms of the latest MSOA cluster maps, that cover the period of specimen dates between November 16 and November 22, Callington and Pensilva (21), Bodmin East (20), Wonford and St Loye’s (20), and Barnstaple Sticklepath (20) are the only four areas with a cluster of 20 or more – compared to 29 last week.

Full Cluster List (Nov 16-22): Cornwall - Callington & Pensilva 21, Bodmin East 20, Bodmin West 18, Kingsand, Antony & Maryfield 12, Illogan & Portreath 13, Trebetherick & Whitecross 8, Wadebridge 10, Bude & Stratton 15, Perranporth & Goonhavern 8, Grampound Road, St Newlyn East and Cubert 9, St Neot & St Cleer 7, Poundstock & Kilkhampton 8, Newquay West 7, St Ives & Halsetown 6, Truro East 7, St Columb Minor & Porth 7, St Columb Major & St Mawgan 9, Gunnislake & Calstock 5, Roche & Goss Moor 6, Saltash Latchbrook & St Stephens 4, Altarnun & Stoke Climsland 6, Pool & Illogan Highway 6, St Breward, Tredethy and Lanivet 4, St Agnes & Mount Hawke 5, St Germans & St Mellion 4, Trewoon, Coombe & Foxhole 5, Dobwalls, Addington & Menheniot 5, Ponsanooth, Mabe Burnthouse & Constantine 6, Marazion, St Erth & Gwinear Gwithian 5, Redruth South 4, St Austell Central 5, Crowan, Wendron & Stithians 4, Saltash Towen & Pillmere 3, Crackington & Tintagel 3, Camelford & Tresmeer 3, Helston 5, St Austell North & Carclaze 3, St Austell East & Carlyon Bay 4, Lanreath, Pelynt & Polruan 3, Falmouth North 3, Newquay East 3, Truro West 3. All other areas 0-2 cases, including Liskeard, Mid Saltash, Torpoint, Looe & Polperro, Launceston, Padstow & St Issey, Lostwithiel & Penwithick, Tywardreath & Fowey, Mevagissey & Polgooth.

By Daniel Clark, Local Democracy Reporter