Vaccination plea over Covid cases across West

AFURTHER 553 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed across Devon in the latest Government update.

Official figures published on Wednesday evening showed that there have now been a total of 71,630 positive tests in the county for the virus since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile two further deaths within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19 were reported in Devon, taking the total since reporting began in March 2020 to 820.

The latest coronavirus-related deaths were recorded in North Devon and Teignbridge.

Plymouth saw the largest daily rise in cases, with 162 registered. Second largest was East Devon, which saw a daily increase in cases of 131.

Nationally, a further 207 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday, bringing the UK total to 140,041.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 165,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

A total of 49,794,120 first doses of Covid-19 vaccine had been delivered in the UK as of October 26, a rise of 41,083 on the previous day, Government figures show. Some 45,605,922 second doses have now been delivered, an increase of 23,031. A combined total of 6,706,468 booster and third doses have also been delivered, a day-on-day rise of 264,468.

Meanwhile, people in Camborne, Pool and Redruth are being urged to get vaccinated as figures show Covid cases have remained consistently high in the area.

Statistics reveal the case rate in those communities has been up to double the Cornwall average in recent weeks while vaccine uptake is lagging behind the rest of the county.

The situation has led Cornwall Council’s Public Health team to issue a plea to residents to take up the vaccine offer as soon as possible.

People are also being encouraged to wear face masks in busy areas or indoors, and to practice social distancing where possible.

Rachel Wigglesworth, Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “We can’t stress enough how important it is to get vaccinated. This is the best way to live more safely with coronavirus and everyone needs to take responsibility for themselves, their families and their communities.

“Our data shows that in the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area there is a higher-than-average number of unvaccinated people in just about every age group, and in both men and women.”

The case rate has been dropping in some parts of the Camborne, Pool and Redruth this week, but others are still seeing cases increasing.

As of October 28, the areas with the highest rates are Camborne East with a rate of 651 cases per 100,000, Redruth North with 633 per 100,000, and Pool and Illogan Highway with 705 per 100,000. This compares to a rate of 496 per 100,000 for Cornwall as a whole.

Cllr Dr Andy Virr, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health and an Emergency Department consultant at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, said: “He added: “The more we allow Covid to spread the more likely we are to see more transmissible and dangerous variants of the virus. The last thing any of us want is to go back to the days of lockdowns and restrictions.”