{"id":53936,"date":"2021-11-04T12:43:59","date_gmt":"2021-11-04T12:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=53936"},"modified":"2021-11-04T12:44:00","modified_gmt":"2021-11-04T12:44:00","slug":"covid-19-infections-reach-their-highest-level-with-cases-highest-in-the-south-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/covid-19-infections-reach-their-highest-level-with-cases-highest-in-the-south-west\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 infections reach their highest level, with cases highest in the South West"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The latest findings from Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI show prevalence of COVID-19 infections has increased to around one in every 58 people overall.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s the highest level of infections recorded in the study, which began in May 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the highest prevalence is in the South West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The REACT-1 study is one of the largest into COVID-19 infections in England involving data from 67,000 volunteers. The latest covers the period 19 to 29 October 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It shows that infections have grown fastest among those of school age, and with a twofold increase in rates among people aged 65 and over since their last report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infections, the study suggests, peaked around the 20 October, with case levels dipping a little since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Although the number of hospitalisations and deaths remain lower than in previous peaks, these findings are a powerful reminder that the pandemic is far from over and remains a serious threat to health and wellbeing.<\/p>

“This new data strongly reinforces the need for all eligible age groups to get vaccinated and to take mitigating measures such as wearing a face covering in crowded places and ensuring good ventilation indoors.<\/p>

“This is particularly urgent for older people whose immunity may be waning given that several months have passed since they received their jabs.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health, said the latest data needs to be a wake-up call, especially to those in the South West where case levels are the highest in the country.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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He said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

“These latest figures show that we can’t be complacent.\u00a0 These are the highest rates of infection since this study began, and they need to be a wake-up call to all of us.<\/p>\n

“Coronavirus is very much still in our communities, and while the vaccine is great, we must not rely solely on it to keep us safe.<\/p>\n

“We need everyone who is eligible for a third dose or a booster jab to come forward without delay.<\/p>\n

“We need everyone to take steps to mitigate risk to themselves and others.<\/p>\n

“Face coverings in crowded places, and when indoors with people you don’t live with, including on public transport.<\/p>\n

“If you’re meeting up, do it outside.\u00a0 If indoors, make sure it’s well ventilated.<\/p>\n

“Use lateral flow tests regularly if you’re asymptomatic, to identify if you’re carrying the virus unknowingly.\u00a0 And self-isolate immediately and use PCR tests if you show any of the symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

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\r\n \t Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":53941,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[106],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adult-social-care"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":53941,"title":"coronavirus","alt":"coronavirus, under the microscope","description":"","caption":"Photo by Fusion Medical Animation on 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