SCOTLAND’S weekly coronavirus deaths are now at their lowest level since early October, according to the latest figures.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) data shows 24 deaths relating to Covid-19 were registered between April 12 and 18, down 10 on the previous week. It brings the total number of fatalities up to Sunday to 10,055.

Of the deaths recorded this week, 15 happened in hospital, six in care homes and three at home or in a non-institutional setting.

The statistics are published weekly and cover all deaths registered in Scotland where Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate. They differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily because the NRS figures include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.

In the daily statistics, one further death was confirmed yesterday but the death toll had has fallen to 7643.

A tweet from the Scottish Government yesterday said: “Two previously reported, confirmed coronavirus deaths have been de-notified following further investigation into the date when the case was first notified to Public Health Scotland.”

Yesterday also recorded 273 new cases, with the daily test positivity rate at 1.3%. There were 107 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, up one in 24 hours, and 14 patients were in intensive care, also an increase of one.

A total of 2,752,575 people had received their first dose of a vaccine and 847,655 had received their second.