New weekly total of Coronavirus deaths
Last updated 8th Apr 2020
New statistics show 354 people are suspected to have died with coronavirus in Scotland since the outbreak began last month.
The Government is now publishing a second set of figures, every week, from the National Records of Scotland which look at deaths registered where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, and can include possible or expected cases of the virus.
The new figure covers a period from March 16 to April 5.
It's in addition to the daily update from Health Protection Scotland on the number of deaths, tests and positive cases.
Those latest figures published on Wednesday 8th April recorded 366 deaths - an increase of 70 on Tuesday.
To place these statistics in context, the total number of deaths registered in Scotland from 30th March to 5th April was 1,741. The average number of deaths registered in the same week over the last five years was 1,098.
Over 60% of all deaths involving COVID -19 were people aged 75 or over.
Greater Glasgow and Clyde has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in the year up to 5th April with 122 deaths registered. To date, no COVID-19 related deaths have been registered in Orkney and Western Isles.
Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said:
“We are living in unprecedented times and all of these deaths are tragic. These statistics, when placed alongside the other important evidence being made available by the Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland (HPS), will be valuable to the understanding of the progress and impact of the COVID-19 virus across Scotland.
“We have produced these statistics based on deaths involving COVID-19, so this includes any deaths where COVID-19 is mentioned on the death certificate, whether it is the underlying cause of death or a contributory cause and includes registered deaths resulting from suspected or probable COVID-19.
“Using this methodology means that our statistics will differ from the number of deaths released daily by HPS which report on deaths with an associated positive test for COVID-19, and it is expected that NRS statistics will show a higher number of deaths. This is because NRS figures report on deaths involving confirmed and also suspected or probable cases of COVID-19.”
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