COVID-19 cases across Devon and Cornwall have fallen by a third for the second week in a row, with declines in all areas.

A total of 1,547 new cases were confirmed across the two counties in the last week, wit the total for the two counties now standing at 42,935 – the lowest total for seven weeks.

Devon also has the lowest infection rate of any upper tier authority in England and, out of its eight districts, seven of them are in the bottom 10 of the 315 council areas.

Government statistics show that 1,547 new cases have been confirmed across the region in the past seven days compared to 2,327 new cases confirmed last week.

Of the 1,547 cases confirmed since January 29, 592 were in Cornwall, with 108 in East Devon, 51 in Exeter, 105 in Mid Devon, 27 in North Devon, 242 in Plymouth, 55 in South Hams, 114 in Teignbridge, 203 in Torbay, 11 in Torridge and 39 in West Devon.

This compared to 2,327 cases confirmed between January 23 and 29 of which 1,005 were in Cornwall, with 152 in East Devon, 110 in Exeter, 107 in Mid Devon, 51 in North Devon, 382 in Plymouth, 80 in South Hams, 137 in Teignbridge, 211 in Torbay, 30 in Torridge and 62 in West Devon.

The number of patients in Devon's hospitals following a positive COVID-19 test has fallen by nearly 20 per cent in the last week, as beds occupied in the county remain the lowest in England.

As of Tuesday morning, there were 403 patients occupying beds across the county after a positive test, down on the 442 as of the previous Tuesday.

Patient numbers have fallen in Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay, and have remained unchanged in North Devon, while the Nightingale Hospital has seen a slight rise as it continues to take in patients from elsewhere in the country.

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 3).

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

The number of patients in mechanical ventilation beds across Devon and Cornwall is slightly up, with 20 in Derriford, 10 at the Royal Devon and Exeter, and seven in Torbay.

In the last week, there have been 30 deaths in Devon and Cornwall hospitals of patients within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, with 10 at Derriford, 10 in Cornwall, five in Exeter, three in North Devon and two in Torbay.

Steve Brown, director of public health Devon, said that while cases of COVID-19 are now falling in Devon, case numbers are still much higher than they were.

He said: "It looks like the current restrictions are having a positive impact and we are starting to see cases come down.

"But we're still seeing cases spreading between work colleagues. It's often not because of the work place practices themselves, it's more a consequence of social interaction between colleagues while at work. And too often, it's the virus spreading between colleagues who are car sharing."

Local COVID-19 cases numbers as of January 31:

Axminster - 6 (decrease of 3 on previous week)

Kilmington, Colyton & Uplyme - 24 (increase of 22)

Seaton - 5 (no change)

Sidbury, Offwell & Beer - fewer than three cases (exact data for small areas with fewer than three cases is not shared to protect individuals' identities)

Sidmouth Sidford - fewer than three cases

Sidmouth Town - 3 (no change)

Ottery St Mary & West Hill - 5 (decrease of 21)

Honiton South & West - 7 (increase of 3)

Honiton North & East - 5 (decrease of 8)

Dunkeswell, Upottery & Stockland - fewer than three cases

Tatworth & Combe St Nicholas - 19 (increase of 5)

Chard North & East - 40 (decrease of 16)

Chard West - 31 (decrease of 27)

Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Marshwood Vale - 6 (increase of 4)