Coronavirus deaths in Scotland fall for third consecutive week
The number of confirmed and suspected Covid-19 deaths in care homes is also down, according to figures from the National Records of Scotland
More than 3,500 people have died with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 in Scotland, but new figures show the number of weekly deaths is continuing to fall.
A total of 3,546 coronavirus-related deaths had been recorded in the country as of May 17, according to the National Records of Scotland.
There were 332 deaths relating to Covid-19 registered between May 11 and 17, a decrease of 83 from the previous seven days and the third consecutive weekly drop.
The majority of coronavirus-linked deaths across Scotland in the week to May 17 were in care homes - at 55%, down from 57% the previous week.
The NRS figures are published weekly and account for all fatalities registered in Scotland where Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
They differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government using Health Protection Scotland figures because they include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.
The total number of deaths registered in Scotland from May 11 to 17 was 1,415 - 33% more than the average number of deaths registered in the same week over the last five years (1,064).
Covid-19 was the underlying cause of death in 85% of the 351 excess deaths, down from 96% the previous week.
Three-quarters (75%) of registered deaths involving Covid-19 to date were people aged 75 or over.
The NRS figures also show 38% of registered deaths involving Covid-19 between May 11 and 17 were in hospitals, up from 37% the previous week, while 6% were at home or in non-institutional settings, up from 5% the week before.
Giving the daily Health Protection Scotland figures, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a total of 2,184 patients have died in Scotland after receiving a positive test for coronavirus, up 50 from 2,134 on Tuesday.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister said 14,751 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, a rise of 96 from 14,655 the day before.
There are 1,443 patients in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of four from 1,447 on Tuesday, and 53 people are in intensive care, a fall of six.
She added preliminary analysis found that in Scotland “there is not a higher level of Covid-19 cases than would be expected'' in minority ethnic communities.”
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