Covid rates fall as MPs consider ‘roadmap’
THE number of deaths relating to coronavirus in Devon and Cornwall has fallen by 25% and to the lowest level since the beginning of 2021.
The figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which relate to the week of February 6 to 12, but registered up to February 20, show that 75 of the 347 deaths registered in the two counties had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
The tally of 75 deaths is the lowest total for five weeks, but is still the eighth-highest weekly total since the pandemic began.
Deaths in Devon have dropped nearly 40% week-on-week, but Cornwall has seen its numbers slightly rise. However, the numbers across the two counties as a whole have now fallen for four weeks in a row as the ONS figures show the impact of the third national lockdown, due to the time lag between infections and deaths, as well as the start of the vaccine effect following the roll-out that began at the end of 2020.
Of the 75 deaths registered in week six (February 6 to 12), there were 40 deaths of people from Cornwall, nine in Plymouth, seven in Torbay and Teignbridge, four in East Devon, three in Exeter and Mid Devon, one in Torridge and West Devon. No deaths in the Isles of Scilly, North Devon, or the South Hams were registered.
Thirty-three of the deaths occurred in care homes, 39 in hospitals, with three at home.
The figures come as the majority of MPs across the Westcountry have broadly welcomed Boris Johnson’s roadmap to lift the coronavirus restrictions, although Labour’s Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) and Conservative Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) raised some concerns.
Mr Bradshaw said: “The Government has rightly said we should be driven by the data and not dates and says these dates are subject to review. Given the stunning evidence on the impact of the vaccines in preventing serious illness and deaths, the Government should be prepared to bring those dates forward, as well as back, if the data justifies it.”
Mrs Morris described the road map as “far too slow”, and added: “The vaccination was hailed as the gamechanger, and it is, but our huge success in vaccinating the vulnerable and many more is not being recognised.”
APLYMOUTH passenger ferry has been converted to run on electricity as the city waterfront becomes increasingly green.
A vessel from the Mount Batten Ferry service fleet has had her engine replaced with a new electronic drive propulsion system and solar charging capability.
This is being seen as a huge boost to reducing emissions from water transport in the Cattewater area of the city.
Copper, the smaller of the Mount Batten Ferry business’ fleet, has undergone her transformation to electric power during the past few months as the service has been closed to passengers due to the ongoing Covid pandemic.
The Mount Batten Ferry usually runs daily, all year round between The Barbican and Mount Batten, on Plymouth’s waterfront.
Copper’s sister ferry, Sulphar, has also had her diesel engines replaced with two fuel efficient smaller Beta engine units. The passenger ferries that operate from the Barbican Landing Stage will be able to use electric power from a charge point installed on the landing stage.
This will help reduce pollution and maintain cleaner waters – essential for the work that is ongoing in Britain’s first National Marine Park in Plymouth Sound.
In a separate development, Plymouth is to get a trailblazing 150-passenger all-electric super ferry to connect the city to Cornwall.
Cornwall’s Voyager Boatyard has successfully bid for funding from the Government’s Innovate UK agency to design and build the e-Ferry, which will operate for up to 14 hours a day on a single charge.
The boat will become the flagship vessel on Plymouth Boat Trips’ Cremyll Ferry commuter route, between Plymouth and South East Cornwall.
The electric drive on Mount Batten Ferry’s Copper boat was designed and fitted in-house by Universal Marine Services Ltd, which owns and operates the Mount Batten Ferry service, with the help of engineering company, Flint Engineering.
Universal Marine Services can now carry out a range of electric drive installs.
Captain Dan Stevens, owner of Universal Marine Services Ltd, said: “Copper was chosen for an electric drive retrofit as it is one of Plymouth’s busiest ferries and operates daily between The Barbican and Mount Batten.
“She made an ideal vessel to trial a new electric drive and will hopefully make a great addition, and leap forward, to Zero Carbon Emission transport for Plymouth’s waters.”
Capt Allen also welcomed Plymouth Boat Trips’ move towards electric ferries and said: “It really is excellent to have both ferry operators in the Cattewater investing significantly in electric craft.”
Captain Richard Allan, chief executive and harbour master for Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, said: “With the installation of the Plymouth City Council charging points on the Barbican Landing Stage, and Copper’s new electric engine and solar charging capability, this is another hugely positive step forward as part of the port’s commitment to improving air quality.”