The South Hams has seen the highest week-on-week Covid rise in the UK.

The rate of new cases is up from 611.7 to 857.3 per 100,000 people against the national average of 479.

The area is now the third most infectious in Devon

It comes as the new variant of Covid – Omicron – recently prompted an update to government guidance, meaning all contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of age or vaccination status.

Last week, Dr Paul Johnson, chair of NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group said: ”We’re still learning about the Omicron variant, but we can be clear that social distancing, regular hand washing and wearing a mask where appropriate can reduce the spread of all strains of covid-19 as well as of seasonal flu.

“As the temperature drops it’s really important to get vaccinated against covid-19 and seasonal flu, if you are eligible, in order to protect yourself, your loved ones and the NHS.”

On Tuesday November 30, 148 patients with Covid were in Devon’s hospitals, a reduction of 15 from last week. Sixty-three are at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, 42 at the Royal Devon & Exeter, 23 in Torbay and 20 in North Devon.

Of the total number of patients, 12 are in ventilation beds.

Fourteen more people died in the county within 28 days of testing positive for Covid in the latest complete weekly period (up to Wednesday December 1). Five were in the Devon County Council area, one in Torbay and eight in Plymouth.

A total of 1,378 people in Devon (including Plymouth and Torbay) have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic began.

Vaccination percentages now include those aged 12 and over. The number who have received at least one dose of a vaccine is 87 per cent in the Devon County Council area, 85 per cent in Torbay and 83 per cent in Plymouth.

The proportion of people who are fully vaccinated with both jabs is 81 per cent in Devon, 79 per cent in Torbay and 76 per cent in Plymouth