First Minister welcomes ninth consecutive weekly fall in the Covid-19 death toll
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that the weekly death toll from Covid-19 has shrunk for the ninth week in a row.
Official figures from the National Records of Scotland that record suspected as well as confirmed cases of Covid-19 as a cause of death, showed 14 fewer fatalities in the week up to Sunday compared to the previous seven day period.
The nationwide death toll now stands at 4155, up from 4070 last week.
This week's figures also saw the excess death total – those who died not just because of Covid-19 – fall below the five year average for the first time since March.
There was just one new death confirmed in the last 24 hours.
At today's Scottish Government briefing Nicola Sturgeon said: "This is the first time since March that the total number of deaths has been below the five-year average, in other words the first time since then that we don't have a number of excess deaths above that average.
“So this week's statistics again tell of the real and sustained progress that we are making in tackling Covid-19 – that said the numbers also speak of heartbreak for many of our fellow citizens."
Also at today's briefing the First Minister annoubced that a programme aimed at addeessing fuel poverty was set to retsrat for the first time cince lockdown started.
"From today, our Warmer Homes Scotland programme will resume – Warmer Homes Scotland tackle fuel poverty, give help to those who most need it to make their housing more energy efficient and, therefore, cuts people's heating bills and reduces total greenhouse gas emissions.
"The scheme’s restart also means that more than 300 staff are being brought out of furlough, so that they can get back to work improving people's homes.
"Overall, therefore, the resumption of Warmer Homes Scotland is good for employment, for the environment and for those households across the country whose homes will become easier and more cost-effective to heat."
