Promising trend as death toll from Covid-19 falls for fourth week says Sturgeon
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There are promising trends in the decreasing number of fatalities related to Covid-19 according to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who was speaking in Holyrood ahead of tomorrow’s decision that will relax the lockdown in Scotland.
She said that while any Covid-19 death is one too many, serious improvements were becoming as it is the fourth week in a row where the total number of fatalities has declined on the previous week.
Those dying from the infection in care homes have also declined but based on the weekly figures still make up more than half the number of people dying from coronavirus.
Currently, according to the daily numbers from health boards across Scotland there are 15,240 positive cases confirmed, an increase of 55 since yesterday, 1247 patients with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 are in hospital, which is a rise of 47 in the last day.
As of last night 38 people were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, which is an increase of three and there were another 13 deaths in the past 24-hours.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The National Records of Scotland (NRS) has just published it's more detailed weekly report, the latest NRS report covers the period up until Sunday the May 24 – three days ago – at that point according to our daily figures 2273 deaths have have been registered of people who had tested positive for the virus.
“However, by Sunday the total number of registered deaths linked to Covid-19 confirmed and presumed was 3779 – 230 register in the seven days up to Sunday that is a decrease of 105 from the week before and indeed this is the fourth week in a row in which deaths have fallen.
“Deaths in care homes made up 54 per cent of all deaths linked to the virus last week, that is down from 56 per cent in the previous week and the number of Covid-19 deaths in care homes also reduced again from 186 last week 124 in the most recent weeks, however, of course, that figure remains too high.
“These trends which have now been sustained for over four weeks do definitely gives us ground for encouragement. The weekly number of Covid-19 deaths has fallen by more than 60 per cent from its peak, excess deaths have reduced by more than three-quarters and deaths in care homes are also falling.
“Tomorrow we will take a formal decision on whether to begin to emerge from lockdown, any early steps are likely to focus on outdoor activities and we will provide full information on what individuals and businesses should and should not be doing.
“I stress that even if some restrictions are relaxed later this week it will still be essential to follow guidance, for example to stay two metres apart from people from other households and to self-isolate if you have symptoms.”
