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

A total of 1,266 new cases have been confirmed across the two counties – 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 past seven days in both pillar 1 data from tests carried out by the NHS and pillar 2 data from commercial partners, compared to 2,367 new cases confirmed last 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 2,367cases 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 it’s total number of cases are 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 in the last seven days, now at 938 from 942 last Friday, although there are currently 67 patients in mechanical ventilation beds, up from 65 as of last Friday.

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 last week, there 21 deaths within hospitals in Devon and Cornwall within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 death, 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 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.

Ottery St Mary and West Hill (17), Cullompton (15), Efford, Laira & Crabtree (18), Ivybridge (7), Starcross and Exminster (12), Higher Brixham and Preston and Shorton (18), Hartland Coast (11) and Okehampton (10) are the areas in the other districts with the highest cluster numbers.

It comes as Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health Devon (Designate) said this week that going into Tier 2 will give the best chance for Devon to see cases continue to fall.

“When we were in Tier 1, prior to the current national restrictions, we saw continued rising cases,” he said.

“It’s only been recently, as a result of the national lockdown, that we have seen those cases plateau and ultimately start to fall.

“Devon going into Tier 2 is the best chance for us to continue to see those cases fall.”

The COVID-19 cases are identified by taking specimens from people and sending these specimens to laboratories around the UK to be tested. If the test is positive, this is a referred to as a lab-confirmed case.

Confirmed positive cases are matched to ONS geographical area codes using the home postcode of the person tested.

Cases received from laboratories by 12.30am are included in the counts published that day. While there may have been new cases of coronavirus confirmed or people having tested positive, those test results either yet to reach PHE for adding to the dataset or were not received in time for the latest daily figures to be published.

FULL CLUSTER LIST

Nov 16-22

Area

Number

Rate per 100/000

Cornwall

Callington & Pensilva

21

251.6

Cornwall

Bodmin East

20

236.9

Cornwall

Bodmin West

18

225.1

Cornwall

Kingsand, Antony & Maryfield

12

189.7

Cornwall

Illogan & Portreath

13

182.6

Cornwall

Trebetherick & Whitecross

8

142.1

Cornwall

Wadebridge

10

140.8

Cornwall

Bude & Stratton

15

140.6

Cornwall

Perranporth & Goonhavern

8

134.7

Cornwall

Grampound Road, St Newlyn East and Cubert

9

131.1

Cornwall

St Neot & St Cleer

7

106

Cornwall

Poundstock & Kilkhampton

8

105.8

Cornwall

Newquay West

7

94.6

Cornwall

St Ives & Halsetown

6

86.3

Cornwall

Truro East

7

82.2

Cornwall

St Columb Minor & Porth

7

79.7

Cornwall

St Columb Major & St Mawgan

9

78.7

Cornwall

Gunnislake & Calstock

5

77.4

Cornwall

Roche & Goss Moor

6

76

Cornwall

Saltash Latchbrook & St Stephens

4

71.7

Cornwall

Altarnun & Stoke Climsland

6

70.6

Cornwall

Pool & Illogan Highway

6

69.2

Cornwall

St Breward, Tredethy & Lanivet

4

64.1

Cornwall

St Agnes & Mount Hawke

5

59.7

Cornwall

St Germans & St Mellion

4

59.5

Cornwall

Trewoon, Coombe & Foxhole

5

59.4

Cornwall

Dobwalls, Addington & Menheniot

5

56.5

Cornwall

Ponsanooth, Mabe Burnthouse & Constantine

6

52.2

Cornwall

Marazion, St Erth & Gwinear Gwithian

5

52

Cornwall

Redruth South

4

49.5

Cornwall

St Austell Central

5

49.3

Cornwall

Crowan, Wendron & Stithians

4

47.3

Cornwall

Saltash Town & Pillmere

3

42.2

Cornwall

Crackington & Tintagel

3

41.7

Cornwall

Camelford & Tresmeer

3

41.4

Cornwall

Helston

5

41.1

Cornwall

St Austell North & Carclaze

3

41

Cornwall

St Austell East & Carlyon Bay

4

40.6

Cornwall

Lanreath, Pelynt & Polraun

3

38.2

Cornwall

Falmouth North

3

38.2

Cornwall

Newquay East

3

30.1

Cornwall

Truro West

3

28.6

Cornwall

Liskeard

0-2

Cornwall

Mid Saltash

0-2

Cornwall

Torpoint

0-2

Cornwall

Looe & Polperro

0-2

Cornwall

Truro South & Central

0-2

Cornwall

Shortlanesend, Chacewater & Carnon Downs

0-2

Cornwall

Probus & Roseland

0-2

Cornwall

Mylor Bridge & Frogpool

0-2

Cornwall

Penryn

0-2

Cornwall

Falmouth East

0-2

Cornwall

Falmouth West & South

0-2

Cornwall

Redruth North

0-2

Cornwall

St Day & Lanner

0-2

Cornwall

Camborne East

0-2

Cornwall

Camborne West

0-2

Cornwall

Camborne South

0-2

Cornwall

Porthleven, Breage & Praa Sands

0-2

Cornwall

The Lizard

0-2

Cornwall

Launceston

0-2

Cornwall

Padstow & St Issey

0-2

Cornwall

Hayle

0-2

Cornwall

Towednack, Lelant & Carbis Bay

0-2

Cornwall

West Penwith & St Buryan

0-2

Cornwall

Penzance North

0-2

Cornwall

Penzance Quay

0-2

Cornwall

St Just & Land’s End

0-2

Cornwall

Penzance South & Newlyn

0-2

Cornwall

Lostwithiel & Penwithick

0-2

Cornwall

Par

0-2

Cornwall

Tywardreath & Fowey

0-2

Cornwall

Mevagissey & Polgooth

0-2

East Devon (Devon)

Exmouth Brixington

14

216.2

East Devon (Devon)

Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh

15

202.3

East Devon (Devon)

Exmouth Halsdon

14

201.8

East Devon (Devon)

Ottery St Mary & West Hill

17

190.9

East Devon (Devon)

Sidmouth Sidford

13

184.9

East Devon (Devon)

Honiton South & West

9

163.6

East Devon (Devon)

Clyst, Exton & Lympstone

10

146.3

East Devon (Devon)

Exmouth Town

8

108.3

East Devon (Devon)

Exmouth Littleham

8

106.5

East Devon (Devon)

Honiton North & East

6

99.2

East Devon (Devon)

Budleigh Salterton

6

96.5

East Devon (Devon)

Sidbury, Offwell & Beer

5

92.7

East Devon (Devon)

Cranbrook, Broadclyst & Stoke Canon

12

89.1

East Devon (Devon)

Poppleford, Otterton & Woodbury

5

81.3

East Devon (Devon)

Sidmouth Town

3

57.3

East Devon (Devon)

Feniton & Whimple

5

57.1

East Devon (Devon)

Seaton

4

53.1

East Devon (Devon)

Dunkesewell, Upottery & Stockland

3

51.7

East Devon (Devon)

Kilmington, Colyton & Uplyme

4

47.9

East Devon (Devon)

Axminster

4

42.9

Exeter (Devon)

Wonford & St Loye’s

20

241.3

Exeter (Devon)

Exwick & Foxhayes

13

171.8

Exeter (Devon)

Heavitree West & Polsloe

13

152.3

Exeter (Devon)

St Leonard’s

10

148.8

Exeter (Devon)

Middlemoor & Sowton

18

143.4

Exeter (Devon)

Mincinglake & Beacon Heath

10

142.5

Exeter (Devon)

St Thomas West

10

137.5

Exeter (Devon)

Pennsylvania & University

14

120.4

Exeter (Devon)

Alphington & Marsh Barton

8

109

Exeter (Devon)

Countess Wear & Topsham

8

103.7

Exeter (Devon)

Pinhoe & Whipton North

7

74.7

Exeter (Devon)

St James’s Park & Hoopern

6

62.6

Exeter (Devon)

St Thomas East

5

61.1

Exeter (Devon)

Central Exeter

7

57.9

Exeter (Devon)

Heavitree East & Whipton South

4

53

Mid Devon (Devon)

Cullompton

15

170.6

Mid Devon (Devon)

Willand, Sampford Peverell & Halberton

12

163.9

Mid Devon (Devon)

Tiverton North & Outer

11

126.6

Mid Devon (Devon)

Crediton

8

100.9

Mid Devon (Devon)

Bradninch, Silverton & Thorverton

8

95.7

Mid Devon (Devon)

Tiverton East

6

80.7

Mid Devon (Devon)

Tiverton West

5

79.3

Mid Devon (Devon)

Bow, Lapford & Yeoford

5

78.5

Mid Devon (Devon)

Uffculme & Hemyock

5

73.1

Mid Devon (Devon)

Bampton, Holcombe & Westleigh

5

73

Mid Devon (Devon)

Morchard Bishop, Copplestone & Newton St Cyres

3

40.4

North Devon (Devon)

Barnstaple Sticklepath

20

339.3

North Devon (Devon)

Barnstaple Pilton

16

274.4

North Devon (Devon)

Bratton Fleming, Goodleigh & Kings Heanton

9

146.3

North Devon (Devon)

Barnstaple Central

9

141.9

North Devon (Devon)

Braunton

11

116.6

North Devon (Devon)

South Molton

11

110.3

North Devon (Devon)

Roundswell & Landkey

8

86.5

North Devon (Devon)

Barnstaple South

7

78.7

North Devon (Devon)

Fremington & Instow

5

78.2

North Devon (Devon)

Woolacombe, Georgeham & Croyde

4

74.2

North Devon (Devon)

Bishop’s Nympton, Witheridge & Chulmleigh

5

73.2

North Devon (Devon)

Lynton & Combe Martin

3

54.7

North Devon (Devon)

Ilfracombe East

0-2

North Devon (Devon)

Ilfracombe West

0-2

Plymouth

Deer Park & Leigham

16

218.4

Plymouth

Derriford & Estover

17

214.9

Plymouth

Efford, Laira & Crabtree

18

197.7

Plymouth

Mannamead & Hartley

14

179.3

Plymouth

Keyham

13

169.5

Plymouth

Ford & Blockhouse Park

13

163.9

Plymouth

Tamerton Foliot

13

161.3

Plymouth

Honicknowle & Manadon

13

147.6

Plymouth

Southway

12

137.9

Plymouth

King’s Tamerton & West Park

10

134.9

Plymouth

St Budeaux

14

134.4

Plymouth

North Prospect

9

132.8

Plymouth

Stoke & Pennycomequick

9

131.8

Plymouth

Lipson

11

125.7

Plymouth

Plympton St Maurice

9

122.5

Plymouth

Peverell

9

119.4

Plymouth

City Centre, Barbican & Sutton Harbour

12

113.2

Plymouth

Higher Compton & Eggbuckland

8

111.7

Plymouth

Mutley

9

101.6

Plymouth

Millbay & Stonehouse

12

97.1

Plymouth

Devonport, Mount Wise & Morice Town

9

96.4

Plymouth

Plymstock Hooe & Oreston

10

96

Plymouth

Cattedown & Prince Rock

9

94.7

Plymouth

Plymstock Goosewell & Staddiscombe

7

93.7

Plymouth

Plymstock Elburton

7

90.2

Plymouth

Ernesettle

5

82.3

Plymouth

Crownhill

5

81

Plymouth

Plympton Underwood

6

78.3

Plymouth

Plympton St Mary

4

51.8

Plymouth

Glenholt & Widewell

3

42.6

Plymouth

Ham, Beacon Park & Pennycross

0-2

Plymouth

Plympton Chaddlewood

0-2

South Hams (Devon)

Kingsbridge

6

92.4

South Hams (Devon)

Loddiswell & Dartington

6

83

South Hams (Devon)

Woolwell & Lee Mill

4

65.2

South Hams (Devon)

Yealmpton, Modbury & Aveton Gifford

5

64.9

South Hams (Devon)

South Brent & Cornwood

5

60.1

South Hams (Devon)

Ivybridge

7

59.5

South Hams (Devon)

Wembury, Brixton & Newton Ferrers

4

59

South Hams (Devon)

Marldon, Stoke Gabriel & Kingswear

4

53.4

South Hams (Devon)

Totnes Town

4

45.2

South Hams (Devon)

Dartmouth

0-2

South Hams (Devon)

Chillington, Torcross & Stoke Fleming

0-2

South Hams (Devon)

Salcombe, Malborough & Thurlestone

0-2

Teignbridge (Devon)

Starcross & Exminster

12

138.9

Teignbridge (Devon)

Moretonhampstead, Lustleigh & East Dartmoor

7

119

Teignbridge (Devon)

Kingsteignton

9

101

Teignbridge (Devon)

Ogwell, Mile End & Teigngrace

8

95.4

Teignbridge (Devon)

Tedburn, Shillingford & Higher Ashton

5

92.9

Teignbridge (Devon)

Teignmouth South

5

73.4

Teignbridge (Devon)

Newton Abbot, Milber & Buckland

4

71.4

Teignbridge (Devon)

Dawlish North

6

70.6

Teignbridge (Devon)

Newton Abbot, Highweek

4

65

Teignbridge (Devon)

Newton Abbot, Broadlands & Wolborough

3

52

Teignbridge (Devon)

Chudleigh & Bovey Tracey

5

51.3

Teignbridge (Devon)

Teignmouth North

4

47.2

Teignbridge (Devon)

Dawlish South

0-2

Teignbridge (Devon)

Heathfield & Liverton

0-2

Teignbridge (Devon)

Bishopsteignton & Shaldon

0-2

Teignbridge (Devon)

Newton Abbot, Town Centre

0-2

Teignbridge (Devon)

Ashburton & Buckfastleigh

0-2

Teignbridge (Devon)

Kingskerswell

0-2

Teignbridge (Devon)

Ipplepen & Broadhempston

0-2

Torbay

Higher Brixham

18

239.3

Torbay

Preston & Shorton

18

204

Torbay

Paignton Central

15

157.2

Torbay

Clifton & Maidenway

11

154.7

Torbay

Goodrington & Roselands

11

153.9

Torbay

Brixham Town

13

137.4

Torbay

Shiphay & the Willows

12

113.5

Torbay

Blatchcombe & Blagdon

13

107.9

Torbay

Ellacombe

6

102.9

Torbay

Wellswood

8

102

Torbay

Chelston, Cockington & Livermead

10

91.4

Torbay

Churston & Galmpton

6

88.7

Torbay

Watcombe

4

55.4

Torbay

Babbacombe & Plainmoor

3

53.4

Torbay

St Marychurch & Maidencombe

0-2

Torbay

Upton & Hele

0-2

Torbay

Torquay Central

0-2

Torridge (Devon)

Hartland Coast

11

169

Torridge (Devon)

Westward Ho! & Northam South

7

109.7

Torridge (Devon)

Bideford North

6

100.7

Torridge (Devon)

Bideford South & East

10

78

Torridge (Devon)

Shebbear, Cookworthy & Broadheath

4

56.5

Torridge (Devon)

Winkleigh & High Bickington

4

54.7

Torridge (Devon)

Great Torrington

3

50.2

Torridge (Devon)

Holsworthy, Bradworthy & Welcombe

5

49.3

Torridge (Devon)

Appledore & Northam North

0-2

West Devon (Devon)

Okehampton

10

131.4

West Devon (Devon)

Lifton, Lamerton & Bridestowe

8

120.3

West Devon (Devon)

Bere Alston, Buckland Monachorum & Yelverton

7

110.5

West Devon (Devon)

Horrabridge & Mary Tavy

6

98.9

West Devon (Devon)

Chagford, Princetown & Dartmoor

6

86.4

West Devon (Devon)

Hatherleigh, Exbourne & North Tawton

8

82.9

West Devon (Devon)

Tavistock

4

31.9

Isles of Scilly

Isles of Scilly

0-2