Coronavirus deaths decline for second consecutive week

Seventy fewer coronavirus-linked deaths were recorded across the country last week, according to the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

The figures show 374 deaths were registered in the week February 1-7 where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

That means the number of deaths where coronavirus was a confirmed or suspected factor has now fallen for two consecutive weeks.

A further 113 deaths of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 have been announced since February 7.

In total, there have been 8839 coronavirus-linked deaths registered in Scotland.

Pete Whitehouse, director of statistical services at the NRS, said: “As we continue to live with this virus, these figures show the very real consequences facing families and communities across the country who have suffered the loss of a loved one.

“Today’s statistics show a welcome reduction in the number of deaths for the second consecutive week.”

Three-quarters of deaths between February 1-7 occurred in hospital, representing 281 deaths, 68 occurred in care homes, 22 at home or in non-institutional settings and three in other institutions.

The majority of deaths were of people aged 75 and over, representing 275 deaths, and 44 deaths were those aged under 65.

There were 215 more deaths registered in the latest week compared with the five-year average.

Meanwhile, during First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland had recorded 50 deaths of coronavirus patients in the past 24 hours.

The death toll under this measurement – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – is now 6551.

A further 803 positive cases were also reported by the Scottish Government in the last 24 hours – 4.8% of those newly-tested.

There are 1,542 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, down 76 in 24 hours, and 113 patients are in intensive care, an increase of one.

A further 57,447 people were vaccinated against Covid-19 in Scotland in the past 24 hours.

As of Wednesday morning, a total of 985,569 people in Scotland had received their first dose of vaccine.