Coronavirus deaths pass 1 thousand
Deaths from Coronavirus in Scotland have reached four figures with a total of 1,062 patients dying after testing positive - up by 77 from 985 on Tuesday.
The figures are lower than the 1,616 deaths given earlier by the National Records of Scotland as they do not include suspected and probable coronavirus infections.
Other statistics show that around 1 in 3 of all deaths are now occurring in care homes.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said 9,038 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 366 from 8,672 the day before.
Almost three-quarters of those who have died from Covid-19 were aged over 75
There are 155 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, a decrease of 11 on Tuesday, she added.
There are 1,776 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, down from 1,866 yesterday.
Since March 5, 1,813 patients who tested positive have been discharged from hospital.
Figures that will be published later on Wednesday will show 384 care homes have a current outbreak of coronavirus, the First Minister said.
Ms Sturgeon said: "These are care homes that have at least one resident who has exhibited symptoms of the virus in the last 14 days.''
She added it was "not unusual'' for care home residents to become ill, saying they were often frail and nearing the end of their lives.
But she insisted that did mean that these deaths were considered "inevitable''.
Ms Sturgeon conceded the figures for deaths are "very difficult to report on'', adding: "They are higher than any of us want to think about.''
But she said: "This information is really important, because it gives us as full a picture as possible of the toll the virus is having and how and where it is progress.''
Almost three-quarters of those who have died from Covid-19 were aged over 75, Ms Sturgeon said.
She stressed, however, that "much younger people do sometimes die as a result of this virus and that is an important reminder that all of us are potentially at risk''.
More than half (56%) of deaths have been in hospital, Ms Sturgeon added, with 33% of deaths in care homes and 10% dying at home or another setting.
Referring to the latest weekly death figures, published by National Records of Scotland, Ms Sturgeon said the total was "again much higher then the average for the same week in previous years''.
While she said that "around three-quarters of that difference this week can be attributed directly to Covid-19'', she added that "more than 200 deaths can't be explained in this way''.
The NRS data indicated some of the difference "appears to be a result of more people dying of cancer and of dementia and Alzheimer's'', the First Minister said.
She added: "Clearly this is an issue we need to do further work on to make sure we understand it fully.''
The First Minister said: "These deaths are not just statistics, they are all people who were loved and cherished and who to their family and friends are irreplaceable.
"We should never ever forget that, just as we should not forget those left behind, grieving for their lost loved ones.''
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