COVID-19 cases have risen sharply across Devon, as the county begins to reflect the rising levels of the virus across the rest of the UK.

In the week up to December 30 Torbay's rate rose by over 50 per cent, with increases of just under half seen in Plymouth and the Devon County Council area.

It marks a significant change from the first half of December when COVID-19 rates were falling in Devon and the Omicron variant was not yet believed to have spread substantially. Festive mixing may have altered that.

However, infections in the county remain way below the national average of 1,597 per 100,000 people; in the Devon County Council area and Torbay they stand at or just over 850, and in Plymouth at 1,180.

At district level, Mid Devon and North Devon recorded the largest increases – just over 65 per cent. Cases in Teignbridge and Torridge both went up by 60 per cent in the last week of December.

West Devon, which recorded the smallest increase of 24 per cent, now has the lowest COVID-19 rate of the county's council areas at 738, with Exeter's rate of 983 being the most prevalent part of the county council area.

Hospitalisations

Despite the increase in case numbers, COVID-19 hospital admissions dropped in December.

As of December 28, there were 123 patients with COVID-19 in hospitals across Devon, a reduction of eight from a fortnight before this.

Seventy-one people were at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, 24 at the Royal Devon & Exeter, 17 in Torbay and 11 in North Devon.

Of the total number of patients, 15 were in ventilation beds.

Deaths

Twenty-three more people died in the county within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19 in the latest complete weekly period up to Thursday, December 30.

Fifteen were in the Devon County Council area, five in Torbay and three in Plymouth.

A total of 1,459 people in Devon, including Plymouth and Torbay, have died within 28 days of a positive test since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Vaccinations

The proportion of people aged 12 or over who have received their booster (third) COVID-19 vaccination is 66 per cent in the Devon County Council area, 61 per cent in Torbay and 52 per cent in Plymouth.

Take-up for at least one dose of a vaccine is 88 per cent in the Devon County Council area, 86 per cent in Torbay and 84 per cent in Plymouth.

The proportion of people who have had two jabs is 82 per cent in Devon, 80 per cent in Torbay and 78 per cent in Plymouth.

COVID cases in the Axminster area

In line with the picture across Devon and the rest of the country, COVID-19 cases in the Axminster have increased according to the latest figures.

In the seven-day period up until December 30, there were 94 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Axminster, an increase of 24 on the previous week.

This means the case rate per 100,000 people was 989.2 – below the national average of 1,597 but above the Devon County Council average which stands at about 850.

Case numbers also increased in almost every surrounding area. The figures for neighbouring areas up until December 30 were as follows:

Seaton – 58 (increase of 21)

Kilmington, Colyton & Uplyme – 59 (increase of 25)

Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Marshwood Vale – 66 (increase of 26)

Sidbury, Offwell & Beer – 30 (increase of 12)

Sidmouth Town – 36 (increase of 18)

Sidmouth Sidford – 79 (increase of 43)

Ottery St Mary & West Hill – 83 (increase of 21)

Honiton South & West – 33 (increase of 22)

Honiton North & East – 23 (no change)

Dunkeswell, Upottery & Stockland – 27 (increase of 2)

Chard West – 59 (increase of 35)

Chard North & East – 74 (increase of 35)

Tatworth & Combe St Nicholas – 67 (increase of 41)