More than 10,000 deaths linked to Covid in Scotland

More than 10,000 deaths have been linked to coronavirus in Scotland since the start of the pandemic, according to official figures.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) said Covid-19 had been listed on 9997 death certificates up to Sunday, April 4.

Since then, the Scottish Government has announced the deaths of six people who tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total to 10,003.

NRS also revealed the number of deaths has fallen for the tenth consecutive week, with 38 between March 29 and April 4.

However, it stressed the figures may have been affected by the public holiday on Good Friday and the number of registrations is “likely to be an undercount”.

Of the new NRS figures, the majority were in hospital at 29, with five at home or in non-institutional settings, and four in care homes.

There were 15 deaths in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area, six in Ayrshire and Arran, and five in both Lanarkshire and Lothian.

At council level, the highest number of deaths occurred in Glasgow at six, followed by three in Edinburgh, East Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire.

NRS also reported that 47% of the deaths were of people aged 75 and over, with 21% under 65.

Out of the 38 deaths, 53% were male and 47% were female.

Pete Whitehouse, director of statistical services at NRS, said: “We are seeing an encouraging reduction in the number of deaths involving Covid-19, but I am very conscious that these figures represent painful losses for families across Scotland.

“While registered deaths continue to fall, care should be taken when interpreting this week’s figures. These have been affected by the recent public holiday as there may have been a delay in registering some deaths.”