Coronavirus in Scotland: Covid no longer top cause of death according to NRS report

A monthly report has shown March was the first month since October last year where coronavirus was not the top cause of death in Scotland.

Staff check on patients suffering with Covid-19 on the critical care unit at the Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge picture: PA

The research by National Records Scotland (NRS) showed that in March this year, Covid-19 was instead the fifth most common cause of death.

The study also found the coronavirus death toll fell significantly in March compared to February this year, from 259 to 69 deaths per 100,000 population.

As of 11 April, NRS officially recorded a total of 10,031 Covid-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

In the week from the 5 to 11 April, 34 deaths were registered that mentioned coronavirus on the death certificate, a decrease of four deaths from the previous week.

The number of deaths recorded in the last two weeks however may be lower than normal due to the recent public holidays and closure of registration offices for Easter.

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