34 new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Edinburgh and the Lothians as Scotland's death toll rises by 40

Thirty-four new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the NHS Lothian board area in the past 24 hours, as the death toll in Scotland increased by 40.

The Scottish Government figures, published today at 2pm, shows an increase from 1,980 positive cases in the Lothians to 2,014. The latest figures also showed a daily increase of 30 more people in hospital with suspected or confirmed coronavirus.

Data published on Wednesday by the National Records of Scotland, which includes deaths where Covid-19 was suspected and confirmed, revealed that 370 people in Lothian have now died of the virus this year up to Sunday, April 26th. This is the second highest number of Covid-19 linked deaths in Scotland after Greater Glasgow and Clyde with 741.

The NRS figures for the whole of Scotland showed 2,272 Covid-19 related deaths were registered in Scotland up to Sunday.

Nicola Sturgeon during a daily coronavirus briefing.

The NRS statistics also revealed that more people have died in care homes in Lothian than in hospitals, with 186 deaths and 156 deaths respectively.

More than a third of all Covid-19 linked deaths in Scotland are in care homes, with just over half in hospitals and nine per cent at home or other settings.

According to the latest Scottish Government figures on confirmed coronavirus deaths in Scotland, there has been a rise from 1,475 to 1,515 in the past 24 hours. However, this will be an underestimate as highlighted by the NRS data which gives a wider picture.