NEW figures published by National Records of Scotland reveal that the number of coronavirus fatalities is set to far higher than reported.
The statistics that the Scottish Government publish daily through Health Protection Scotland are those where the patient has been tested for coronavirus, and has returned a positive test.
The NRS figures include patients who haven’t been tested for the virus but where doctors believe it was a contributory factor to the death.
As of April 5 there have been 354 deaths registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned in the death certificate.
It’s not entirely clear what the gap between the two figures is, but the government figures released on April 6 had the total number of deaths at 222.
The new figures also reveal more details about the spread of the disease.
The first mention of Covid-19 in a death registration was the week beginning March 16 2020.
Over 60% of all deaths involving Covid-19 were people aged 75 or over.
Greater Glasgow and Clyde has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in the year up to April 5 with 122 deaths registered.
To date, no Covid-19 related deaths have been registered in Orkney and Western Isles.
Pete Whitehouse, director of Statistical Services, said: “We are living in unprecedented times and all of these deaths are tragic. These statistics, when placed alongside the other important evidence being made available by the Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland (HPS), will be valuable to the understanding of the progress and impact of the Covid-19 virus across Scotland.
“We have produced these statistics based on deaths involving Covid-19, so this includes any deaths where Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate, whether it is the underlying cause of death or a contributory cause and includes registered deaths resulting from suspected or probable Covid-19.
“Using this methodology means that our statistics will differ from the number of deaths released daily by HPS which report on deaths with an associated positive test for Covid-19, and it is expected that NRS statistics will show a higher number of deaths. This is because NRS figures report on deaths involving confirmed and also suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.”
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