Death toll from coronavirus in Scotland rises to 366

The death toll from coronavirus in Scotland has risen by 70 to 366, with more than 4500 confirmed cases, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Total confirmed cases are up by 336 to 4565, while there are 210 patients with Covid-19 in intensive care and 1711 in hospital overall.

It comes as the National Records of Scotland (NRS) published new weekly figures providing more detail on coronavirus-linked deaths.

Speaking at a Scottish Government briefing on Wednesday, the First Minister acknowledged the complexity of having two counting systems.

As of Sunday, April 5, a total of 354 deaths were registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned in the death certificate, according to NRS.

The figures, calculated separately to the daily statistics on cases and deaths, include hospital and community deaths and cover the period from March 16 to April 5.

Sturgeon said the reason for the difference in the NRS figures, which are lower than the new official death toll of 366, is the time lag, with the weekly statistics only running up to last Sunday.

She said the new report captures all deaths registered within a seven-day period – those who have died with a confirmed diagnosis and also presumed cases.

The First Minister added: “It is important to stress these figures record deaths according to the date of registration of death.

“There can be a gap of up to eight days between death recorded and registered.

“These new weekly figures include more detailed information than previously.

“These breakdowns show that those who are older are more likely to die of Covid-19 but they show that nobody is immune so everybody should follow the instructions.”

She continued: “This information is also essential to help us understand who is most severely impacted by the virus and where there are any hotspots.

“It also helps us plan for beds in hospitals and when the peak is likely to pass.

“I understand that the figures can make us feel powerless and something we can’t see or feel is taking lives but by following the rules and by self-isolating all of us can help to reduce the number of deaths.”

Confirmed cases as of April 8 by health board area / daily change

Greater Glasgow and Clyde: 1166 (+72)

Lothian: 700 (+79)

Tayside: 586 (+70)

Lanarkshire: 575 (+28)

Ayrshire and Arran: 312 (+16)

Forth Valley: 259 (+16)

Fife: 255 (+16)

Grampian: 223 (+13)

Borders: 160 (+11)

Dumfries and Galloway: 155 (+3)

Highland: 122 (+10)

Shetland: 43 (+1)

Western Isles: 4 (no change)

Orkney: 4 (nc)

Confirmed or suspected cases in hospital / intensive care by health board area

Greater Glasgow and Clyde: 555 (62)

Lothian: 275 (41)

Lanarkshire: 249 (28)

Tayside: 134 (7)

Fife: 127 (13)

Forth Valley: 107 (9)

Ayrshire and Arran: 91 (16)

Grampian: 62 (11)

Borders: 56 (9)

Dumfries and Galloway: 44 (6)

Highland: 61 (6)

Shetland: <5

Western Isles: <5

Orkney: <5

According to the NRS, the first mention of Covid-19 in a death registration was the week beginning March 16.

Last week, from March 30 to April 5, a total of 282 deaths relating to Covid-19 were registered, a steep rise on previous weeks.

There were 62 in the week between March 23 and March 29, and ten in the week before, March 16-22.

The total number of deaths overall in Scotland from March 30 to April 5 is 1741.

The average number of deaths registered in the same week over the last five years was 1098.

NRS statistics capture all deaths registered where the death certificate states that Covid-19 was relevant to the cause of death.

This includes those where a positive test has taken place and also those where it is merely suspected that coronavirus was a relevant factor.

Pete Whitehouse, NRS director of statistical services, said: “We are living in unprecedented times and all of these deaths are tragic.

“These statistics, when placed alongside the other important evidence being made available by the Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland (HPS), will be valuable to the understanding of the progress and impact of the Covid-19 virus across Scotland.

“We have produced these statistics based on deaths involving Covid-19, so this includes any deaths where COVID-19 is mentioned on the death certificate, whether it is the underlying cause of death or a contributory cause and includes registered deaths resulting from suspected or probable Covid-19.”

He added: “Using this methodology means that our statistics will differ from the number of deaths released daily by HPS which report on deaths with an associated positive test for Covid-19 and it is expected that NRS statistics will show a higher number of deaths.”