Devon’s director of public health is urging residents to look out for each other as the county sees its highest rate of Covid-19 since the pandemic began.

Steve Brown is asking residents to keep doing their bit to reduce the spread of coronavirus and to continue looking out for each other, particularly the most vulnerable, as we have done throughout the pandemic.

He said: "I want us to continue to be careful because positive cases in Devon are still rising. In fact at the moment we’ve got the highest rate of Covid-19 we’ve seen during the whole pandemic.

"I strongly feel that it is up to all of us to carry on doing everything we can to continue keeping each other safe.

“Many people, particularly if they are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, have dreaded the day legal restrictions lift for fear of catching coronavirus. I understand that you’re in a difficult position, and you may be feeling worried about the current situation.

“Although the legal restrictions have lifted, our responsibility to members of our family, friends and society has not changed.

"I urge everyone in Devon to choose to do the right thing and keep doing your bit to reduce the spread of coronavirus by respecting the personal space of those around you, wearing a face covering in crowded areas, getting tested regularly, having both doses of the vaccine and washing your hands properly.

“We have been good at looking out for each other and helping those in need, so we need to respect those of us who will still be feeling anxious and behave in ways that protect them and ourselves from the risk of coronavirus.”

The highest Covid-19 case rates remain in the young age groups, mostly within younger working-age adults.

The weekly rate in Devon is currently 412 per 100,000 of the population, compared to 540 for England. All local authority districts are below the national average, except North Devon which has a rate of 563.