Coronavirus: Highest number of deaths recorded since May

Another 28 people have died with coronavirus in Scotland, the highest daily rise since May 21.

The country also recorded 1739 new cases, representing 19.8% of people newly tested and 9.7% of the total number of tests carried out.

The total number of positive cases in Scotland since the start of the pandemic now stands at 50,903.

Of the new cases, 605 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 520 in Lanarkshire, 250 in Lothian and 105 in Ayrshire and Arran.

There are 873 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, up by 49 in 24 hours.

Of these patients, 73 are in intensive care, a rise of three.

The death toll under the measure of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days has risen to 2653.

Separate weekly figures released by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that, as of October 18, 4376 deaths have been registered in Scotland.

Between October 12-18, 75 deaths were registered that mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, representing an increase of 50 deaths from the previous week – the highest weekly total since early June.

Of those deaths, more than three quarters occurred in hospitals, representing 58 deaths, 12 occurred in care homes, and five at home or in a non-institutional setting.

The NRS figures record all deaths linked to coronavirus – including instances where Covid-19 was cited on the death certificate, whether it was the cause or a contributing factor.

They also contain all deaths where the person was suspected to have the virus, even if they never took a test to confirm it.

The total number of all-cause deaths registered in the week ending October 18 was 1,129, six percent higher than the average over the previous five years.