41 deaths linked to Covid-19 in NHS Lothian as number of cases rises by 79

There have been 41 deaths in the NHS Lothian board area linked to Covid-19, as new figures published today showed a rise of 79 confirmed cases in the region in the last 24 hours.

The latest Scottish Government figures, published at 2pm on Wednesday, reveal the breakdown of Covid-19 cases by region and, in Lothian, the number of cases has risen from 621 to 700.

It comes as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed on Wednesday during her daily briefing that 70 more deaths linked to Covid-19 have been recorded as the death toll in Scotland total increased to 366.

And a report published today by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) shows there have been 41 deaths in the NHS Lothian board area, which is 1.7 per cent of the deaths recorded within the health board for the year to April 5th.

Nicola Sturgeon unveiled the latest Covid-19 figures for Scotland during a briefing on Wednesday.

By comparison, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has recorded 122 deaths – the highest in Scotland – linked to Covid-19, representing 3.2 per cent of the overall deaths in this health authority for the year to April 5th. However, Fife has recorded 15 deaths (1.3 per cent) and Grampian 12 deaths (0.7 per cent).

The highest proportion of deaths linked to Covid-19 for any Scottish health board is the Borders, with 16 deaths, which is 3.8 per cent of all deaths recorded.

The likes of Orkney and the Western Isles have recorded zero deaths.

NHS Lothian has the third highest number of deaths in Scotland, after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lanarkshire, which has 48 deaths (2.2 per cent of all registered deaths for the year).

The NRS report provides a wider, more detailed picture of the virus' impact. For the first time, it includes deaths outside of hospital and those where Covid-19 is a "suspected" cause. Data from the National Records of Scotland said that 354 deaths had been linked to the virus by Sunday, April 5th.

‘Follow official guidelines’

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “My condolences are with the families and friends of people who have died from coronavirus.

“These figures give a clearer picture of how Covid-19 cases are escalating and the number of people were Covid-19 has been a contributing factor in their death.

“We must all continue to follow official guidelines and do everything we can to protect the people most vulnerable to Coronavirus.”

According to the Scottish Government’ latest figures, there are 41 people in intensive care and a total of 275 in hospital within the Lothians with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, as of midnight.

Ms Sturgeon said the National Records of Scotland would publish a separate weekly total of deaths, which would include deaths of people who had not been formally tested for Covid-19, but whose doctors had determined the virus to be a cause or contributory factor in their death.

The latest figures released by the Scottish Government today reveal that 4,565 people have now contracted coronavirus in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon stressed again that these figures will likely be an underestimate of how many Scots have or have had the virus.