First confirmed coronavirus deaths in Scotland for six weeks

Two people confirmed to have Covid-19 have died in Scotland, the first deaths for six weeks.

The daily Public Health Scotland statistics had shown no deaths among people who tested positive for coronavirus since July 16.

But Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the two new fatalities while addressing the Scottish Parliament on Thursday.

Separate weekly figures from National Records of Scotland (NRS) show six coronavirus-related deaths in the week ending August 23.

The NRS statistics include all deaths where coronavirus was suspected of being a leading or contributory factor, even if the person has not had a positive Covid test.

They also include people confirmed to have the virus even if their test was more than 28 days ago.

The Public Health Scotland figures do not include people who died more than 28 days after a positive test.

Combining both sets of statistics, they show the most up-to-date death toll from coronavirus in Scotland is now 4224.

The six new deaths recorded by the NRS is a rise of three on the week before, with four of the deaths occurring in care homes and the other two in hospitals, the First Minister told MSPs.

She also confirmed 67 new cases of coronavirus in Scotland, taking the country’s total over the course of the pandemic to 19,988.

The 67 new positive tests amount to 0.5% of all newly-tested individuals.

The First Minister also addressed a number of local clusters of cases in Scotland.

She said 156 cases are now associated with the outbreak at a 2 Sisters food processing plant in Coupar Angus, Perthshire, up four.

All four of those new infections are among workers, Sturgeon said, with 138 workers in total diagnosed and 28 close contacts.

Another cluster out of an additional support needs school, Kingspark School in Dundee, has risen to 31 associated cases: two pupils and 29 staff.

More than 5000 people have been tested across the Tayside region in the last week, the First Minister added.

Cases linked to the cluster out of Aberdeen pubs remains on 261, as the city continues to ease its local lockdown with the reopening of hospitality on Wednesday.

There have been 435 cases in the NHS Grampian region in the past month.

There are 249 people in hospitals across Scotland with coronavirus, a rise of six on the day before.

Two Scots are being treated for Covid-19 in intensive care, an increase of one.