Weekly Covid deaths at lowest level since early October

The number of weekly deaths linked to coronavirus are now at their lowest level since early October, according to the National Records of Scotland.

A total of 10,055 people have died in Scotland with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, the NRS said on Wednesday.

The figures show 24 deaths relating to Covid-19 were registered between April 12 and April 18, down ten on the previous week.

Since then, the Scottish Government has announced the deaths of three people who tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total to 10,058.

Of the deaths in the last week, seven were in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area, five in Lanarkshire and four in Ayrshire and Arran.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said: “This week shows another welcome reduction in the number of weekly deaths, but with over 10,000 people in Scotland dying with this virus, these figures represent heartbreak and loss for families across the country.

“Deaths from all causes are broadly in line with the five-year average. Twenty-four excess deaths were registered this week, which was 2% above the average for this time of year.”

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.

The Scottish Government later revealed on Wednesday that a further 273 positive cases have been recorded in the past 24 hours.

The daily test positivity rate is 1.3%, down from the 1.4% reported on Tuesday when 178 cases were recorded.

According to NHS boards across Scotland, 107 people are currently in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. Out of those, 14 patients are in intensive care.

The Scottish Government also confirmed that 2,752,575 Scots have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, an increase of 2523 from the day before. A total of 847,655 people have received their second dose, a rise of 50,388.

Pubs, gyms and non-essential shops can reopen from next Monday as the whole of Scotland moves into level three coronavirus restrictions, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed on Tuesday.

Speaking at a coronavirus briefing on Tuesday, she said the changes would come into effect on April 26, as previously indicated in the government’s route map out of lockdown.

All shops will also be able to reopen from Monday, along with close-contact services, such as beauty parlours.

Meanwhile, the majority of secondary school pupils in Scotland returned to the classroom full-time this week.

Most primary and high schools across the country started back on April 19 following the Easter holidays.

High school pupils no longer have to adhere to two-metre social distancing rules but other mitigations have been strengthened to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.