The number of people with COVID in the South Hams has continued to increase but by a lower amount than recent weeks.

In the week to Thursday 25 November, rates in the Devon County Council area rose by seven per cent.

It means the county continues to have significantly higher rates of COVID than the national average of 429 cases per 100,000 people. Devon County Council area’s rate being 676.

The South Hams had single-figure increases.

It comes as the new variant of concern, Omicron, prompted an update to government guidance, meaning all contacts of suspected Omicron cases must now self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of age or vaccination status. There are currently no confirmed cases of the variant in Devon.

Devon’s Director of public health Steve Brown said: “We will learn more about the Omicron strain in the next few days, as cases spread and we see the impact that it is having on people’s health.

“This latest variant is another reminder that this pandemic is not yet over.

“The reintroduction of mandatory face coverings is good news, and we will wait to see what impact it has on case rates locally. Devon secondary schools have been advised to wear face covering in communal areas since the start of term so the national announcement is helpful to reinforce the local action.

“We need everyone now to be extra careful.”

From the most recent data from Tuesday November 23, 163 patients with COVID were in Devon’s hospitals. 61 at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, 49 at the Royal Devon & Exeter, 21 in Torbay and 32 in North Devon.

Of the total number of patients, 16 are in ventilation beds.

22 more people died in the county within 28 days of testing positive for COVID in the latest complete weekly period Thursday November 25. Fifteen were in the Devon County Council area.

A total of 1,365 people in Devon (including Plymouth and Torbay) have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic began.

The number of people aged 12 and over who have received at least one dose of a vaccine is 87 per cent in the Devon County Council area. The proportion of people who are fully vaccinated with both jabs is 81 per cent in Devon.