The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed in the last seven days across Devon has fallen – but there has been a rise in Cornwall.

More than 2,000 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the last seven days across the two counties – the highest weekly number yet – taking the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 14,071.

But while cases have risen across the two counties, cases in Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, the South Hams, Teignbridge and Torbay have fallen week-on-week, along with a decrease in the Devon County Council area.

Any cases confirmed in the last week almost certainly relate to infections caught prior to the second lockdown beginning, with any effect of that not likely to be seen until the start of next week.

Government statistics show that 2,068 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 1,946 new cases confirmed last week.

Cases have risen by 25 per cent in the last week in Cornwall, which rises also seen across Plymouth, Torridge, West Devon, and East Devon – the latter still the worst area within the Devon County Council area.

But Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, the South Hams and Teignbridge have all seen cases fall – all of them only by single figures – while cases in Torbay, still high, have dropped by 10 per cent.

Of the 2,068 new cases confirmed since November 6, 440 were in Cornwall, with 217 in East Devon, 189 in Exeter, 67 in Mid Devon, 108 in North Devon, 496 in Plymouth, 73 in the South Hams, 100 in Teignbridge, 270 in Torbay, 52 in Torridge and 56 in West Devon.

This compares to 1,946 new cases confirmed between October 31 and November 5, of which, 341 were in Cornwall, 207 in East Devon, 196 in Exeter, 73 in Mid Devon, 113 in North Devon, 427 in Plymouth, 79 in the South Hams, 103 in Teignbridge, 305 in Torbay, 41 in Torridge and 51 in West Devon.

Of the 2,068 new cases, 1,558 had a specimen date of between November 6 and November 12, with 349 in Cornwall, 165 in East Devon, 147 in Exeter, 53 in Mid Devon, 78 in North Devon, 348 in Plymouth, 58 in the South Hams, 71 in Teignbridge, 200 in Torbay, 46 in Torridge and 43 in West Devon.

Graphs by specimen date show cases are rising in Cornwall, East Devon, Torridge and West Devon, as well North Devon and Plymouth, although the latter two show a small decrease in the most recent day’s data.

Cases in Exeter and the South Hams by specimen date remain fairly level, with Teignbridge is decreasing, as is Torbay and Mid Devon.

The number of people in hospital in the South West has risen to 759 from 514 from last week, but admissions data has stopped rising, and the most recent day of data available was the lowest since October 30, while there are currently 58 people on a mechanical ventilator, down from 67 as of last Friday.

NHS England figures show that as of Tuesday morning, there were 220 patients across Devon and Cornwall, in hospital after a positive Covid-19 test. Of them, 43 in Torbay Hospital (up from 38), 69 Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (38), 19 in North Devon District Hospital (16), 76 in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (64), three in Cornish Partnership Trust hospitals (0), but four at the Royal Cornwall Hospital (down from six).

There are also two beds in Devon Partnership NHS Trust hospitals and four beds in Livewell SouthWest facilities in Plymouth taken up with patients after a positive Covid-19 test.

But the numbers of patients in Mechanical Ventilation beds has fallend in the last seven days, with as of November 10, 17 patients, compared to 18 as of November 3.

There was one patient in Torbay Hospital, two at the RD&E, five in Derriford Hospital, and nine in North Devon District Hospital, with none in Cornwall.

The figures show the amount of patients in hospital following a positive COVID-19 test who are currently occupying a bed.

But not every patient would necessarily have been admitted to hospital due to COVID-19, with a number of patients either contracting the virus inside the hospital, or being admitted for unrelated reasons but subsequently testing positive asymptotically when given routine tests.

In the last eight days, 16 people have died in hospitals in Devon following a positive COVID-19 test, with one in North Devon and Cornwall, four in Plymouth and five in Torbay and Exeter.

But NHS 111 data for Devon is down slightly based on last Friday, although Cornwall is slightly up, and the R-Rate for the South West remains unchanged at 1.2-1.4.

In total, Torridge has had 263 positive cases, West Devon 327, with 502 in the South Hams, 559 in Mid Devon, 586 in North Devon, 827 in Teignbridge, 1130 in East Devon, 1530 in Torbay, 2279 in Exeter, 2984 in Plymouth, and 3084 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

It comes as the leader of Devon County Council has thanked Devon residents for responding positively to the national lockdown restrictions to help stop the spread of Covid-19 and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

Cllr John Hart, leader of the council, said: ‘The figures suggest that fewer people are out and about, and making journeys only if and when they’re necessary.

‘That’s what we need to see. I want to thank our residents for the positive way that they have so far responded to this second national lockdown.’

However, he warned: ‘Even with the welcome announcement this week of a vaccine, we must not become complacent.’