The number of coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall fell by a quarter last week to the lowest level since the start of December.

A total of 1,169 new cases were confirmed last week, compared to 1,547 the previous week, with the total case numbers for the two counties now standing at 44,104 - the lowest for nine weeks.

Devon also has the lowest infection rate of any upper tier authority in England, with Plymouth second and Cornwall third, and at a lower tier level, the seven lowest infection rates are all in Devon.

Of the 1,169 new cases confirmed since February 5, 425 were in Cornwall, with 90 in East Devon, 68 in Exeter, 101 in Mid Devon, 24 in North Devon, 145 in Plymouth, 39 in South Hams, 105 in Teignbridge, 149 in Torbay, 11 in Torridge and 12 in West Devon.

As of last Tuesday, there were 324 patients occupying beds across Devon after a positive coronavirus test, down on the 403 as of the previous Tuesday.

Devon's figures are slightly inflated as it has taken in patients from elsewhere in the country where they are closer to full capacity in hospitals, including Somerset and Dorset.

As of Tuesday, there were 58 patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (down from 80 as of January 26), 57 at the Nightingale (up from 55), 35 at Torbay Hospital (down from 42), 92 in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (down from 112), eight at North Devon District Hospital (unchanged), and four in Devon Partnership NHS Trust units (up from three).

The figure of 58 for the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital is the lowest that they have been treating for nearly three months.

In the last week, there have been 47 deaths in Devon and Cornwall hospitals of patients within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, with 23 in Cornwall, 12 in Plymouth, six in Torbay, five in Exeter and one in North Devon.

Nearly 300,000 people in Devon – more than a quarter of the population – have had their first COVID-19 vaccine, according to the latest NHS England figures.

The statistics, which provide the position as of February 7, show that there have been 284,342 vaccinations in the county, with 271,603 of them being the first dose.

The figures for Devon are by far the highest for any of the regions within the South West – double that of Cornwall.

Steve Brown, director of Public Health Devon, said: "Case numbers are continuing to fall in most parts of Devon, and that's because people in the main are adhering to the national restrictions.

"We are seeing a slight increase in cases in mid Devon, although case numbers there are still low – and far lower than the national average.

"But those mid Devon numbers should be a reminder to show how easily cases can go up quickly as well as go down."

"Please don't be complacent or drop your guard, either in the workplace or indeed travelling to or from work."

Local COVID-19 cases numbers as of February 9:

Axminster - 8 (decrease of 3 on previous week)

Kilmington, Colyton & Uplyme - 8 (decrease of 11)

Seaton - fewer than three cases (exact data for small areas with fewer than three cases is not shared to protect individuals' identities)

Sidbury, Offwell & Beer - 3 (increase of 1)

Sidmouth Sidford - fewer than three cases

Sidmouth Town - fewer than three cases

Ottery St Mary & West Hill - 8 (increase of 3)

Honiton South & West - 5 (decrease of 1)

Honiton North & East - 5 (decrease of 8)

Dunkeswell, Upottery & Stockland - 4 (increase of 2)

Tatworth & Combe St Nicholas - 7 (decrease of 13)

Chard North & East - 3 (decrease of 26)

Chard West - 5 (decrease of 23)

Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Marshwood Vale - 4 (decrease of 4)