Latest figures show a reduction in the death rate, but poorer Scots are twice as likely to die.

People in the most deprived areas of Scotland are 2.3 times more likely to die after contracting covid-19 than those living in the least deprived areas, according to figures published today.

The rate of deaths from all causes is Scotland is 1.9 times higher in the most deprived areas compared to the least. This is the first time additional information and analysis has been published looking at the impact of covid-19 and deprivation.

3,213 deaths linked to covid-19 have now been registered in Scotland. Statistics published today by National Records of Scotland (NRS) show 415 deaths related to the virus were registered between the 4^th and 10^th May – 110 fewer than the previous week.

More expansive than the daily death toll published by the Scottish Government that includes only those patients who died following a positive test result for covid-19, the NRS figures show a reduction in what are often called excess deaths.

A rise of nearly 900 excess deaths in the latter half of April – predominantly made up of covid-19 patients but including people with cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s – prompted calls for a reopening of some NHS services to stem the ‘indirect harm’ being done by a national focus on covid-19.

The total number of deaths registered in Scotland from the 4^th to the 10^th May was 1,434 more than the average number of deaths registered over the same time period over the past five years. Although still 39% more, the total number of deaths reported today is 245 fewer deaths than registered the previous week.

Deaths of care home residents also fell for the second consecutive week, the NRS statistics show, but still accounted for more fatalities than those taking place in Scotland’s hospitals.

Of those who died with covid-19 in April, 91% had at least one pre-existing condition with the most common being dementia (31%) followed by ischaemic heart disease (13%).

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