Two-thirds of adults in West have Covid jab

MORE than two thirds of adults across Devon and Cornwall have had their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine – and more than one in five have had their second jab, too.

The statistics, up until April 18, show that there have been more than 1.3 million vaccines delivered in the two counties, with almost a million of them being the first dose.

In Devon, 671,070 people have had their first dose, with 209,777 of them having had a second dose, while, in Cornwall, 318,905 people have had their first dose, with 104,654 a second dose. It means that, in Devon, 67.1% of adults have had at least one vaccine dose, with 20.9% of adults having had a second dose, while, in Cornwall, 68.8% of adults have had one dose, with 22.6% having had their second dose as well.

The news comes as hospitals across Devon and Cornwall report falling numbers of patients being treated for coronavirus in almost every area.

There is now compelling evidence that the vaccination programme is having a positive impact in driving down case numbers and reducing the severity of disease in those who do catch it.

The positive picture – combined with continuing uncertainty about foreign travel – has boosted hopes of a busy summer season for Westcountry tourism hot-spots.

The Cool Camping website says the UK is set for its biggestever season for staycations, with Cornwall coming in as the third most desirable choice in the country for a break.

CASES of Covid-19 continue to fall in the Westcountry with a major drop in hospitalisations as a result of the virus.

There have been no patients in hospital in North Devon following a positive Covid-19 test for more than two weeks, while it is a week since there was a Covid-19 patient in Torbay Hospital.

The latest NHS figures show that the last time anyone was in North Devon District Hospital after a positive Covid-19 test was on April 4.

In Torbay, there was one Covid19 patient in the hospital on April 14, but they were discharged the following day, and that is the only patient Torbay Hospital has seen with coronavirus since March 31.

Across Devon, there has been a fall in the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital, down to 13 from 15, based on the figures showing the position as of last Tuesday morning.

Derriford Hospital in Plymouth had one Covid-19 patient (down from three) while the Royal Devon and Exeter (RD&E) Hospital had 12 patients (up from 11), with none in North Devon or Torbay.

In Cornwall, the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust units had two Covid-19 patients – the same as last week – while Cornish Partnership Trust hospitals have not had a Covid-19 patient since April 12.

The number of patients in mechanical ventilation beds across the two counties is two, with both patients being at the RD&E.

The figures show the number 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

The positive news on case rates and hospitalisations comes as much of the South West gears up for a bumper year for tourists. With foreign holidays still uncertain, as other parts of Europe continue to see high levels of infection, Devon and Cornwall are expecting a visitor boom, similar to last year when – once lockdown restrictions eased – the visitors poured in.

Campsite owners across Cornwall are manning the phones and sprucing up the grounds in anticipation of what looks set to be a huge year for the industry.

The Cool Camping website says the UK is set for its biggest season on record, with Cornwall coming in as the third most desirable choice in the country.

Bookings for a more socially distanced holidays are proving popular, for obvious reasons. According to its recent Camping Trends Report, 2020 was one of the most popular years ever, with more people than ever turning to camping in place of their usual holiday abroad. This year looks set to be no different.

Patrick Langmaid, who owns caravan, camping and touring fields near Padstow, says “a resurgence around bookings” is certainly taking place in Cornwall.

Many of his pitches at Mother Ivey’s Bay are already “virtually full,” he said, but he has taken the decision to not open one of his four touring fields this year “to help with social distancing”.

Mr Langmaid has taken 170 camping and touring pitches out of operation. “It means it’s going to be nicer for the people who do come,” he said.

“I think that the successful businesses this year are going to be those that cater to customer needs, and this year’s needs are around safety and reassurance.”

However, he said he is concerned about pop-up campsites the county. Cornwall Council’s planning website has had numerous applications to change use of land to seasonal campsites, or to introduce more semi-permanent camping pods. Mr Langmaid believes this could be damaging to established businesses.

‘We have taken 170 pitches out of use to help with social distancing on the site’ PATRICK LANGMAID