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ALMOST half of all Covid-19 deaths in Renfrewshire have taken place in care homes, confirm the latest statistics.

In weekly figures released by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) for death certificates mentioning the coronavirus, a total of 79 lives have been lost in care homes, a rise of seven from the week previously.

Deaths in hospital rose by just four to 73 and there were no additional deaths at home.

The total deaths in Renfrewshire linked to the coronavirus since the crisis began now stands at 160, sixth highest for Scottish local authorities.

Fatalities across Scotland to Sunday, May 10, now stand at 3,213 people. 

The NRS figures differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government because they include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.

People in Scotland's most deprived areas were 2.3 times more likely to die with Covid-19 than those living in the least deprived areas, the figures indicate.

There were 415 deaths registered between May 4 and May 10, a fall on the 523 registered the previous week, according to the NRS.

The total number of all deaths registered in Scotland from May 4-10 was 1,434, up 39 oer cent from the five-year average for that week of 1,034.

The NRS said: "Of these 400 excess deaths, 96 per cent were deaths where Covid-19 was the underlying cause of death."

A total of 1,973 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 61 from 1,912 on Tuesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.

Speaking at First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament, she announced 13,929 people in Scotland have now tested positive for the virus, a rise of 166 from 13,763 the day before.

As of Tuesday night, 1,534 patients were in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, down 84 from 1,618 the previous day, Ms Sturgeon added, of which 70 are in intensive care, a fall of 11.

These daily figures differ from the weekly figures published today by National Records of Scotland because the weekly figures include all deaths where Covid-19 is mentioned on death certificate.

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond