THE number of new coronavirus confirmed across Devon and Cornwall in the last week has fallen again to its lowest level since early September.

A total of 163 new cases were confirmed across the two counties in the last week – the lowest total since the week ending September 12 – with the total since the start of the pandemic at 47,461.

Infection rates in Cornwall at an upper tier authority level are the second lowest anywhere in England – with only East Sussex lower – and at 7.5/100,000, the lowest they have been since September 12.

Devon is fourth in the list with rates at 8.5/100,000 – equivalent to the rates on September 20, with Plymouth’s rate of 9.5/100,000 is the lowest since August 27.

Government stats show that 163 new cases have been confirmed across the region in the past seven days in both pillar 1 data from tests carried out by the NHS and pillar 2 data from commercial partners, compared to 176 new cases confirmed last week.

Of the 163 new cases confirmed since April 9, 54 were in Cornwall, with 8 in East Devon, 14 in Exeter, 18 in Mid Devon, 4 in North Devon, 18 in Plymouth, 4 in South Hams, 18 in Teignbridge, 14 in Torbay, 6 in Torridge and 5 in West Devon.

This compares to the 176 new cases confirmed between April 3 and 9, of which,53 were in Cornwall, with 10 in East Devon, 12 in Exeter, 12 in Mid Devon, 3 in North Devon, 32 in Plymouth, 9 in South Hams, 11 in Teignbridge, 26 in Torbay, 3 in Torridge and 5 in West Devon.