CORONAVIRUS has claimed another 33 lives in Renfrewshire, latest figures show.

Data released by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) confirms the fatalities took place in the week from January 4-11 and bring the total death toll in Renfrewshire since the pandemic began to 374.

It is the second highest weekly total for deaths from Covid-19 in the local area over the past nine months.

Only the week beginning April 20 last year had a more devastating death toll, with 40 people losing their lives.

The NRS data also shows that only three other council areas in Scotland had more deaths from coronavirus in the week ending January 11 – North Lanarkshire (53), Glasgow (50) and Edinburgh (34).

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

According to the NRS, coronavirus was responsible for more than a third of all deaths recorded in Renfrewshire in the week ending January 11.

Pete Whitehouse, NRS director of statistical services, said: “Each statistic represents the death of a loved one and heartbreak for families and friends.”