The South Hams has seen seven cases of COVID-19 recorded in the last week, official figures show, up from two the week before.

More than 100 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the last seven days across Devon and Cornwall, more than double the previous week.

Government statistics show that 102 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 to 42 new cases confirmed last week.

It is the highest number of new cases confirmed since the end of May, and follows an outbreak of 11 cases in Plymouth following teenagers returning from Zante.

But the number of people in hospital in the whole of the South West has fallen to just 13 – the lowest number since figures began to be recorded in April.

Of the 102 new cases, 19 were in Cornwall, with nine in East Devon, nine in Exeter, nine in Mid Devon, six in North Devon, 21 in Plymouth, seven in the South Hams, seven in Teignbridge, 14 in Torbay, and one in West Devon. Torridge saw no new cases confirmed.

Not all of the 102 cases related to specimen dates from the last week, but all of the South Hams’ cases did. The sole case in West Devon occurred back on August 1 but was only confirmed this week. Only 70 of the cases had a specimen date of between August 21-27, with 11 of Cornwall cases occurred in that period, with six in East Devon, five in Exeter, seven in Mid Devon, four in North Devon, seven in the South Hams, four in Teignbridge, 17 in Plymouth, and nine in Torbay.

The remaining cases dated back to earlier in August.

The rise in cases has been put down to Devon residents returning home from trips abroad, having contracted coronavirus infection while away on holiday.

Devon’s Director of Public Health, Dr Virginia Pearson, said they were picked up by the NHS Test and Trace programme on their return to the country, and all appropriate containment procedures, including self-isolation, have been followed.

She added: “These cases show how vital it is that we all remain extra vigilant when travelling at home or abroad. The NHS Test and Trace system has done its job here very well, and we’re confident that the risk of onward infection in the community is very low as a result of residents doing the right thing and taking the right actions quickly.

“What it does show is that people need to be extra careful when travelling abroad and must continue to respect social distancing, wash their hands regularly, avoid crowded areas and wear face coverings as directed.”

In Plymouth, a group of 11 youngsters, all aged 18 or 19, testing positive for COVID-19 following a holiday in the Greek island of Zante.

The teens, it has been confirmed by director of public health Dr Ruth Harrell, visited restaurants and pubs after returning home but before they were aware they had tested positive for the virus, with most having no or very minor symptoms.

She added: “We know that some of these young people had no symptoms, and so carried on as normal, including a night out in Plymouth’s bars and restaurants, until they became aware of the risk,” she said. “That means more people could be infected.

“We are in contact with all the pubs and bars across the city to remind them of their frontline role in stopping the spread of this virus. They need to help us to protect the city. But it also needs everyone to help too.

“If you think you’ve been in contact with someone who has tested positive, you need to self-isolate. If you get any symptoms, get tested as well as isolate. There’s no two ways round it.”

However, despite the rise in cases, the number of people in hospital with coronavirus has continued to fall, and in the South West, the figure has dropped from 17 last Friday, to 13 today – the lowest figure since April when numbers began to be collated.