Chicken plant hit by Covid outbreak

A CLUSTER of Covid-19 cases has been confirmed at the giant 2 Sisters chicken processing factory in Willand, Cullompton.

While the rest of Devon is experiencing a fall in coronavirus positive test results, there have been 29 new cases in Mid Devon, which now has the highest rate in the county.

The news comes as eight further deaths following a coronavirus diagnosis are reported in the Westcountry, three at Derriford, two at the RD&E, one at Torbay Hospital, one at North Devon hospital and one at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro.

A TRIAL carried out in South West hospitals has proven the effectiveness of using an arthritis drug to treat patients suffering from Covid-19.

The RECOVERY research project, which included every major hospital in the Westcountry, as well as major input from Exeter University, has shown that tocilizumab – an anti-inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis treatment – reduces the risk of death for patients suffering from severe effects of the virus.

Researchers also found that the drug reduces the length of hospital admission, and the risk of patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

The trial was the world’s first study to show that dexamethasone – a cheap and readily available steroid – reduces the risk of dying from Covid-19. It found patients who have significant inflammation and require oxygen can have mortality reduced by around a third with a combination of a systemic corticosteroid – such as dexamethasone – alongside tocilizumab.