Deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland

Last update: 5 August 2020
Next update: 12 August 2020
Frequency: See Note        

	Report: Week 31 (PDF 2 MB)		Data and Charts (Excel     CSV)
	News Release (5 August 2020)		Open Data
	Infographic  (PDF 119 KB)		Archive
	Related Statistics

Key Findings

• As at 2 August, there have been a total of 4,208 deaths registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate. The first mention of COVID-19 in a registered death certificate was the week beginning 16 March 2020.
   
• Of the total number of deaths registered in week 31 (27 July to 2 August), there were 7 where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, a decrease of 1 from the previous week (20 to 26 July), but the weekly total has remained similar over the latest three weeks.
   
• Deaths involving COVID-19 accounted for less than 1% of all deaths registered in week 31. This proportion has fallen steadily from its peak in week 17 when COVID-19 deaths accounted for 36% of all deaths.
   
• 46% of COVID-19 deaths registered to date related to deaths in care homes. 46% of deaths were in hospitals and 7% of deaths were at home or non-institutional settings.
   
• Two of the seven COVID-19 deaths registered in week 31 occurred in a care home. The proportion of COVID-19 deaths which took place in care homes had risen in the earlier stages of the pandemic, but began to decrease after April.
   
• More than three quarters (77%) of all deaths involving COVID-19 to date were of people aged 75 or over.
   
• This number is different from the count of deaths published daily on the gov.scot website, because the latter is based on deaths of those who have tested positive for COVID-19. The NRS figures published here include all deaths where COVID-19 (included suspected cases) was mentioned on the death certificate.

   

Change to frequency of this publication

This latest publication by NRS is the 18th weekly analysis of the impact and spread of COVID-19 related deaths across Scotland. This publication was introduced to provide clear and accessible official statistics delivering headline figures and more detailed analyses.

As the number of deaths from all causes have now returned to average levels and the weekly counts of deaths involving COVID-19 are very low, NRS are planning to release one further weekly publication on 12th August and then revert to a monthly publication on mortality. This monthly publication (starting on 16th September) will focus on total deaths from all causes, excess deaths and COVID-19 related deaths.

Data on deaths from all causes, excess deaths and COVID-19 related deaths will continue to be made available on a weekly basis – through the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 dashboard, and through UK analysis from the Office for National Statistics. 

Should there be any significant changes in the spread or impact of COVID-19, NRS will consider re-introducing a weekly publication.

Contact Us

Please get in touch if you need any further information, or have any suggestions for improvement.

For media enquiries, please contact communications@nrscotland.gov.uk

For all other enquiries, please contact statisticscustomerservices@nrscotland.gov.uk