THE number of deaths from Covid-19 in East Renfrewshire has gone up but at a lesser rate than the week before, new figures show.

National Records of Scotland statistics showed the number of residents to have lost their lives to the virus rose from 48 to 58 in the week ending May 3. 

Four of those registered were in care homes, where the figure had nearly doubled the week before. Deaths in hospital rose from 25 to 31. There were no further coronavirus deaths at homes.

Nationally, the death toll has fallen in Scotland for the first time.

There were 523 deaths relating to Covid-19 registered between April 27 and May 3, a decrease of 135 from the previous week of April 20-26, according to the NRS.

A total of 2,795 deaths involving the virus had been recorded as of May 3, with the proportion of coronavirus deaths recorded in care homes rising on last week to 59%.

The figures are published weekly and account for all fatalities registered in Scotland where Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.

They differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government using Health Protection Scotland (HPS) figures because they include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.

Announcing the daily figures on Wednesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said 1,703 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 83 from 1,620 on Tuesday.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, she said 12,709 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 272 from 12,437 the day before.

There are now 89 people in intensive care with coronavirus or symptoms and 1,632 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19.

According to the NRS, of the deaths involving coronavirus registered in the week of April 27 to May 3, 59 per cent were in care homes, compared to 52 per cent the previous week.

The figures show 37 per cent of registered deaths involving Covid-19 were in hospitals and 4 per cent were at home or non-institutional settings, compared to 42 per cent and 6 per cent the previous week.

The total number of all deaths registered in Scotland from April 27 to May 3 was 1,673 - 55 per cent more than the average number of deaths registered in the same week over the last five years, which was 1,079.

The previous week of April 20 to April 26 was nearly 68 per cent higher than the five-year weekly average.

Covid-19 was the underlying cause of death in 83 per cent of the 594 excess deaths, down from 85 per cent the previous week.