7 more deaths from Coronavirus
Nicola Sturgeon says the rise is partly down to a lag in recording deaths over the weekend
Last updated 9th Jun 2020
Scotland's death toll from Coronavirus is rising again following two days of no new fatalities, with First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, confirming seven Scots have died in the last 24 hours.
A total of 2,422 patients have now died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19.
This is the first rise in deaths in Scotland since Saturday but Ms Sturgeon said there is always a "weekend lag'' in reported deaths.
She said while the rise of seven deaths was "not what we wanted to hear'', there was a still a "clear downward trend'' in the number of fatalities.
"two consecutive days of reporting zero deaths, today's figure of seven is of course not what we would have wanted to hear, but I think it is important to stress it is not a surprise either.
"We have consistently said we know there is a weekend lag in registration of deaths, as the numbers we report on Tuesdays are usually higher than the numbers we report on Sundays and Mondays.
"So today's figure, though an increase on the last two days, is nevertheless a further indication of a clear downward trend in the number of people who are losing their lives to this virus and that of course is clearly welcome.''
15,653 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 14 from 15,639 the day before.
There are 1,011 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of 31.
Of these patients, 21 were in intensive care, a decrease of three.
Nicola Sturgeon said while the rise of seven deaths was “not what we wanted to hear”, there was a still a “clear downward trend” in the number of fatalities.
Speaking at her daily briefing in Edinburgh, the First Minister said: “After two consecutive days of reporting zero deaths, today's figure of seven is of course not what we would have wanted to hear, but I think it is important to stress it is not a surprise either.
“We have consistently said we know there is a weekend lag in registration of deaths, as the numbers we report on Tuesdays are usually higher than the numbers we report on Sundays and Mondays.
“So, today's figure, though an increase on the last two days, is nevertheless a further indication of a clear downward trend in the number of people who are losing their lives to this virus and that of course is clearly welcome.”
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