CORONAVIRUS has now claimed more than 200 lives in East Renfrewshire.

The grim milestone was revealed today as latest figures were released by the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

A further eight fatalities took place in the local area during the week ending February 14, bringing the total death toll in East Renfrewshire since the pandemic began to 204.

The figures include all fatalities registered where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate and, as this includes suspected or probable cases, it differs from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government.

Across Scotland as a whole, the death toll now stands at 9,053.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services at NRS, said: “Over 9,000 deaths have now been registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate and they represent loss and grief for families and communities across the country."