For the second week in a row two people died in Ayrshire where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate.

There were 19 deaths recorded across the country as a whole.

The National Records of Scotland published the updated figures earlier today, which cover the week April 26 - May 2.

Both of the deaths occurred in South Ayrshire.

As of May 2, 10,097 deaths have been registered in Scotland where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

At council level, the largest numbers of deaths were in Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire, which both recorded three deaths, with two in each of Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire. Of 32 council areas in Scotland, 20 recorded no deaths involving COVID-19.

79 per cent of deaths were people aged 75 and over, representing 15 deaths, and 2 deaths were people aged under 65.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said: “We continue to see a progressive decline in the number of deaths involving COVID-19 since January and while that trend is very welcome, I am mindful that each represents a painful loss for a family in Scotland.  

“There were 1,035 deaths in total from all causes this week, 5 per cent lower than the five year average.”