Weekly Covid-19 deaths drop for first time in seven weeks

The weekly number of deaths involving coronavirus in Scotland has dropped for first time since June, according to the latest figures.

Data from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show 46 fatalities which mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate were registered in the week from July 26 to August 1.

This marks a drop of 10 on the previous week and the first time the figures have fallen in seven weeks.

For May 31 to June 6 there were eight deaths and the following week, June 7-13, seven deaths were registered – with the figures increasing slightly ever since.

Of this week’s deaths, 38 were in hospitals with two in care homes and six at home or a non-institutional setting.

Ten deaths were people aged under 65, nine were aged 65-74 and 27 were aged 75 or over.

Glasgow City had nine deaths, Fife had five and South Lanarkshire and West Lothian each had four, with 20 other council areas having at least one death last week.

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.

Pete Whitehouse, NRS director of statistical services, said: “NRS figures released today show that last week, there were 46 deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

“This is a decrease of 10 on the previous week’s figure and represents the first decrease in Covid-19 related deaths in seven weeks.

“However, the total number of deaths from all causes was 17 % higher than we would expect for this period, and these excess deaths are at the highest level since February.”

The figures come ahead of Scotland’s move beyond Level 0 of the coronavirus restrictions on Monday.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday the lifting of most measures including physical distancing and limits on social gatherings, however, face masks will remain in place.

Official statistics published by the Scottish Government on Wednesday showed that Scotland recorded 1271 new cases of coronavirus and 13 deaths in the previous 24 hours.

A total of 383 people were in hospital with the virus, whilst 58 people were in intensive care.