Published by the National Records of Scotland on 2nd February 2023 are the following deaths where Covid is registered on the death certificate:
- As of 29th January 2023, there have been a total of 16,710 deaths registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate.
- In week 04 there were 54 deaths involving COVID-19 (30 fewer than the previous week).
- The provisional total number of all deaths registered in Scotland in week 04 of 2023 (23rd to 29th January) was 1,423 (47 or 3% above the 5-year average).

Those deaths in more detail:
Age 15 -44: 1 death Male
Age 45 – 64: 1 death Female
Age 65 – 74: 9 deaths, 3 Female, 6 Male
Age 75 – 84: 12 deaths, 6 Female, 6 Male
Age 85+ : 31 deaths, 18 Female, 13 Male
There were 12 deaths in Care Homes, 6 at Home/ Non Institutional Setting and 36 deaths in Hospital
There were 1,423 deaths due to all causes, an excess over a 5 year average of 47 deaths.
Of the 54 Deaths involving Covid, Covid was the main cause in 40 of them.
There were 189 Respiratory deaths, an excess over the 5 year average of 21 deaths.
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I just hope people invest a few thoughts in the information when interpreting it.
My personal take on the numbers is that not all deaths might be attributed correctly. After all, we know that patients are no longer routinely tested, even in hospital. Cardiovascular diseases, neurological issues as well as auto-immune diseases, which we know now could well be due to a previous Covid-infection (possibly many months before), may not necessarily prompt the physician to mention Covid on the death certificate. Such a death will then most likely also not be counted as a death due to a respiratory disease.
It therefore makes sense to also look into excess mortality. The tricky thing is only that there was and remains a “mortality displacement” and that there are many other factors which also influence excess mortality such as delayed treatments, overwhelmed health services, capacity issues, fluctuations in waiting lists and so forth… and last but not least burden placed upon many through mental health issues and/or consequences of the cost of living crisis.
It get’s more “foggy” by the day to try and get a full picture and it is very much appreciated that The Orkney News continues to report.