Big spike in Covid-19 cases for under-30s
PEOPLE aged under 30 are contracting coronavirus in the greatest numbers in parts of the Westcountry, the latest statistics show.
As the new variant of the disease spreads rapidly, figures have confirmed that the young are now falling victim to the disease.
Cornwall’s current overall infection rate is 301.7 people per hundred thousand – but the infection rate for 20 to 24-yearolds is 806.8, while for those aged 25 to 29 it’s 710.3 per hundred thousand.
Two more deaths of patients in the Westcountry, one in Devon and one in Cornwall were reported yesterday.
But weekly figures reveal better news for the two counties.
The number of deaths registered across Devon and Cornwall where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate has fallen to the lowest level for six weeks.
The figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) out yesterday relate to the week of December 19 to December 25, but registered up to January 2. They show that 27 of the 285 deaths registered in the two counties had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
The previous week saw 43 of the 402 deaths registered in the two counties had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
However experts caution that the reduction in the number of deaths may relate to a combination of factors as a result of the second lockdown, due to the time lag between infection and death, but also could be a result of registration delays over the Christmas holiday period.
THE Devon and Cornwall Police Federation has written to the area’s MPs calling on the Government to prioritise policing for the Covid-19 vaccination – to ensure officers can keep themselves, their families and the public safe.
Currently more than 230 Devon and Cornwall Police officers are off work with Covid-19 or having to selfisolate and another 150 non-frontline police colleagues are also off work with the virus or other sickness reasons.
In a letter to the area’s 18 MPs, Devon and Cornwall Police Federation chairman Andy Berry said the operational effectiveness of the force could come into question if officers are not given priority for the vaccine as sickness levels continue to rise.
And he says that as the country enters a third national lockdown public safety could be at risk.
The Government Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation “does not advise further prioritisation by occupation during the first phase of the [Vaccination] programme.” It says occupational prioritisation “could form part of a second phase of the programme”, which would include healthy individuals from 16 years of age up to 50 years.
Mr Berry said: “I absolutely understand the need to medically prioritise the elderly and vulnerable with vaccinations, but equally it must be a national priority to ensure that the police force remains effective.”