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Covid-19 cases fall in lockdown
It’s estimated that more than 50% of Devon’s population will have received their first Coronavirus vaccination dose by the end of February. The news comes as the UK Government announced that it now hopes to offer vaccinations to all adults in the country by July 31st.
By February 14th, more than 342,000 people in Devon had already had their first Covid jab, including 95% of the over 70s and many people classed as ‘clinically vulnerable’. Local vaccination centres around the county are carrying out about 12,000 vaccinations every day.
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The number of positive Coronavirus cases reported in North Devon up to the last week of February had fallen to fewer than 25, down from peaks of 110 in January and 160 in December. A new community Covid testing clinic has also now opened at the Civic Centre in Barnstaple, providing rapid tests for workers and volunteers.
Dr Alex Degan, lead GP for the vaccination programme in Devon, said, “GPs and their teams, local authorities and volunteers have worked tirelessly together to vaccinate people in the top four priority groups in recent weeks. Thanks to their magnificent and selfless efforts in protecting vulnerable people, hundreds of thousands of people now rest safer from the threat of Covid-19. It is a remarkable achievement and I pay tribute to everyone involved in this lifesaving programme.”


The local vaccination centre at Barnstaple Leisure Centre in full swing in late February - you can see the NHS vaccination schedule on page 16
South Molton Medical Centre staff have been heavily involved in the local roll-out. “Our staff are very busy at the vaccination clinic. They are vaccinating people, manning the patient check-in and updating notes, while other staff are in the surgery booking appointments,” said Gill Squire.
“But please do not contact the practice about these vaccinations as we will contact you directly,” she added. Updates are being posted on their website and social media - and see their advert on page 35.
Some people may receive a letter from the national booking service, inviting them to go to one of the mass vaccination centres in Devon. The simplest way of using the booking service is online at: nhs.uk/covid-vaccination If you can’t book online call 119 (free, 7am - 11pm daily).
Photos: Pete Robinson

