While the number of deaths over Coronavirus appeared to plummet over the last few days - there remains a 'health warning' over the veracity of the Scottish numbers.
Because there continues to be difficulties in getting accurate figures over the numbers of deaths and cases over the weekend, the First Minister continues to express "caution" over the data.
This comes after it was declared that details of care home deaths in Scotland were only going to be published once the data was "robust and reliable".
The tracking of the virus is crucial in terms of working out if the country is winning the battle against Covid-19 and when the lockdown restrictions can be eased.
According to the official figures there were only 22 deaths in the past two days. On the previous two days there were over five times that number (114).
READ MORE: 8,000 a week still arriving in Scotland – and not one is tested for Covid-19
Meanwhile the number of positive cases reported on Monday at 263, was the lowest since last Monday when 155 deaths were recorded. That coincided with another 'caution' about the voracity of the figure.
As of Monday, there were 8450 positive coronavirus cases, with the numbers doubling in 13 days. At the start of April cases had doubled after six-and-a-half days.
And the number of deaths at 915 represents a doubling of fatalities over 10-and-a-half days. Earlier this month, deaths were doubling every three-and-a-half days.
This time Nicola Sturgeon said:"I want to express some caution about that figure. Although people can register deaths over the weekend, we will still expect that the number of registrations over Saturdays and Sundays to be relatively low. We should take that into account."
In stressing the need to continue lockdown measures on Monday said: "Let me stress, everything we are doing right now, everything I am asking you to do and everything you are doing is essential. Towards the end of the week, I will set out some of the factors that will guide our thinking for the future.
"I want to be clear that the initial version of this work will not set out which measures will be lifted and when. We are simply not yet in a position to be able to take those decisions in a properly informed way. And I will not rush to do anything that could risk a resurgence of the virus, because to do that would risk overwhelming the National Health Service and it would put many more lives at risk.
"What we will start to do is to set out our objective, to continue to suppress the virus while considering how we can, even gradually, restore a semblance of normality to everyday life.
"We will set out the factors we need to consider if we do that and the framework with which we would seek to take these decisions."
After announcing the drop in daily deaths last Monday, she said: "I want to sound a note of caution about that figure in two ways.
"Firstly, the nine [deaths] is lower than in previous days, because while it is now possible to register deaths seven days a week in Scotland, we would always expect the number registered to be lower at the weekend. And that is undoubtedly particularly true over the Easter weekend.
"So I [would] expect the figures to be higher tomorrow and the following day, as any deaths from the last few days are registered.
"The second point, is a point I have made before, but it is very important to stress, that these figures that I have just reported today only include those deaths where an individual had tested positive for Covid-19."
On Wednesday, the National Records of Scotland is due to publish its third weekly report detailing all registered deaths from Covid-19, which will include suspected cases.
On April 7, some 74 deaths were reported in one day - after four in two days.
The reasons given then by the First Minister was that NRS's reporting system was "not yet fully in operation for seven days a week".
She added: "Work is underway to change that."
The Herald has requested information from both the National Records of Scotland and Health Protection Scotland about why the remains questions about the recording of coronavirus cases over the weekend.
News from trusted and credible sources is essential at all times, but especially now as the coronavirus pandemic impacts on all aspects of our lives. To make sure you stay informed during this difficult time our coverage of the crisis is free.
However, producing The Herald's unrivalled analysis, insight and opinion on a daily basis still costs money and, as our traditional revenue streams collapse, we need your support to sustain our quality journalism.
To help us get through this, we’re asking readers to take a digital subscription to The Herald. You can sign up now for just £2 for two months.
If you choose to sign up, we’ll offer a faster loading, advert-light experience – and deliver a digital version of the print product to your device every day.
Click here to help The Herald: https://www.heraldscotland.com/subscribe/
Thank you, and stay safe.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel