Coronavirus cases fall from recent high levels

CORONAVIRUS cases in Cornwall have reduced slightly in the past week, but remain above the national average.

The latest data from the UK Government’s coronavirus dashboard reports there were 374 new cases of coronavirus recorded on Sunday, October 24, with the total for the previous seven days standing at 2,836. That is a reduction of 353 cases compared to the previous week which represents a fall of 11.1 per cent.

However, the latest data for deaths at Cornwall’s hospitals shows an increase of 150 per cent on the previous week, with ten deaths within 28 days of a positive test for the virus in the seven days ending Saturday

October 23, representing an increase of six on the previous seven days.

In the area-by-area coronavirus cluster count for the seven days ending October 19, the latest data available reports that the largest outbreak in Cornwall was in the Bude and Stratton area.

There were 117 cases in Bude and Stratton, representing a case rate of 1,103 cases per 100,000 people.

Other outbreaks were reported in Pool and Illogan Highway, with 77 cases (875 per 100,000), Callington and Pensilva with 76 cases (911.8 per 100,000), Kingsand, Antony and

Maryfield with 63 cases (1005.7 per 100,000) and Wadebridge with 63 cases (876.9 per 100,000).

At the other end of the scale, the outbreak in The Lizard area reported 10 cases (102.9 per 100,00), with St Ives and Halsetown, once the epicentre of the post-G7 summit coronavirus outbreak reporting 13 cases (187.7 per 100,000), Falmouth East with 15 cases (213.6 per 100,000) and Porthleven, Breage and Praa Sands with 16 cases (232.8 per 100,000).

Cases in the two areas of Bodmin, which in the previous week were among the highest, have reduced in the latest data, with 60 cases for the seven-day period reported in Bodmin West (733.9 per 100,000) and 52 in Bodmin East (614.1).

Meanwhile, parents in Cornwall are being advised they can book Covid-19 vaccinations online for children aged 12 to 15 during this half-term this week.

They can use the National Booking Service, for vaccination sites at the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, Truro, and the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge.

The NHS says a parent or guardian must attend the vaccination centre with the child.

Iain Davidson, chief pharmacist at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, who is helping with the vaccination rollout, urged people to come forward as soon as they can for their jabs.