THE number of deaths related to coronavirus in Devon and Cornwall between May 2 and May 8 has fallen by a third compared to the previous week – with three quarters of the deaths taking place in care homes.

The latest figures, relate to all deaths that occurred between May 2 and May 8 but were registered up to May 16.

In total, 42 deaths in which COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate were registered in that time period, in which 30 occurred in a care home, 11 in a hospital, and one in a hospice.

The previous week saw 67 deaths – five of which were registered after May 1 when the previous figures were released.

The figures show with which local authority the death was registered, so while someone may have died in Derriford Hospital, if they lived outside of Plymouth, their death would be registered with their local authority and not Plymouth.

Of the latest deaths, 13 were registered in Cornwall, eight in Plymouth, seven in Torbay, five in East Devon, three in Teignbridge, two in Mid Devon and the South Hams, one in Torridge and West Devon, and none in North Devon, Exeter and the Isles of Scilly,

For care home deaths, for which there were 30, the same as the previous week, ten were registered in Cornwall, six in Plymouth, five in Torbay, four in East Devon, three in Teignbridge, and one in the South Hams and West Devon. One death in a hospice in Plymouth was also recorded. 

In total, the ONS stats 468 people in Devon and Cornwall have died with COVID-19 registered on the death certificate. 33 deaths occurred at home, with 258 in hospitals, 176 in care homes, and one in a hospice.

The overall figures for deaths in 2020 related to coronavirus that occurred up to May 8 and were registered up to May 16 show 174 deaths registered in Cornwall, 62 in Plymouth, 50 in Torbay, 38 in East Devon, 37 in Exeter, 29 in Teignbridge, 22 in North Devon, 17 in Torridge, 14 in West Devon, 14 in Mid Devon, 11 in the South Hams, and none in the Isles of Scilly.

Torbay, Exeter, East Devon have seen more deaths in care homes than any other setting.