Coronavirus deaths 'double to eight in the last week'

The number of deaths involving coronavirus in Scotland has doubled to eight in the last week, according to the latest figures.

A total of 10,122 people have now died north of the border with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, according to the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

Latest data shows that eight deaths were registered that mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate in the week of May 24-30, an increase of four deaths on the previous week.

Two deaths were in people aged under 65, one was in the 65-74 age group and five were people aged 75 or over.

There were two deaths in North Lanarkshire and two in Glasgow City, while South Lanarkshire, the Western Isles, Falkirk and East Ayrshire each recorded one death.

Six deaths were in hospitals and two were at home or in a non-institutional setting, while there were no care home deaths involving Covid-19.

The statistics are published weekly and cover all deaths registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

They differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government because the NRS figures include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.

Pete Whitehouse, NRS director of statistical services, said: “The latest figures show a slight increase in deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, although numbers remain at very low levels.

“There were six Covid-19 related deaths in hospitals, none in care homes and two elsewhere.”

Three of those who died were female and five were male.

The number of deaths from all causes registered in Scotland over the week was 1084, which was 39 deaths more than the five-year average.

The Scottish Government later confirmed that one further death and 677 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in the past 24 hours.

The death toll under this daily measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – is now 7670.

The data indicates the daily test positivity rate is 2.8%, down from 3.1% the previous day.

A total of 114 people were in hospital on Tuesday with recently confirmed Covid-19, up from 106 the day before, with ten patients in intensive care – no change.

So far, 3,286,26 people have received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination and 2,106,177 have received their second dose.