Covid-positive tests most common with 20s age group in Devon and Cornwall

People in their 20s are still testing positive for Covid-19 more than any other age groups across Devon and Cornwall, except in Torbay where people in their 50s are.

The latest figures, based on tests reported between November 3 and November 9, continue to show that as was the case last week, Plymouth, Cornwall and the Devon County Council area, the 20-29 age group are still seeing the highest prevalence of cases.

But in Torbay, that is only the fourth highest age range, with the 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69 age ranges seeing more positive tests.

Across Torbay, Plymouth and Cornwall, the proportion of over 60s testing positive has risen in the last week, but there has been a small drop in the Devon County Council area in that age range.

All four areas have seen a drop in the proportion of those aged 10-19 testing positive – with one explanation likely to involve the time period of when the tests would have taken place coinciding with the half-term break.

The figures related to positive cases reported this week between November 3 and November 9, although do not necessarily relate to specimens from that time period.

In Devon County Council area, the proportion of cases in the 60+ age range have dropped to 20 per cent (from 21 per cent), with a drop in the 10-19 age range (10 per cent, down from 11 per cent), with 21 per cent of positives in the 20-29 age range.

Torbay has the highest percentage of cases in the 60+ age range (26.5 per cent, up from 24 per cent last week) and the second lowest in the 10-19 age range (7.7 per cent, up from 10 per cent). The Bay is seeing 20 per cent of the positive cases in the 50-59 age range, and 18.5 per cent in the 40-49 age range, and just 11.7 per cent of people in their 20s.

Plymouth has the lowest percentage of cases in the 10-19 age range (6.7 per cent per cent, down from 8 per cent), with the second lowest in the 60+ age range (17.7 per cent, up from 14 per cent). More than a quarter (25.8 per cent) of positive tests are in the 20-29 age range.

Cornwall has the lowest proportion of those in the 60+ age range (15.6 per cent, up from 14 per cent), but the highest in the 10-19 age range (14 per cent, down from 16 per cent), and also is seeing more than a quarter (26.6 per cent) of all cases in the 20-29 age range.