The blog provides a update on the latest headline statistics on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland. It is updated on Thursday afternoons.
As of 21 April 2022, this blog will no longer be updated. We have taken this decision due to changes in the way the data is published making it difficult to maintain the blog in its current format. You can keep up to with COVID related data on the Public Health Scotland COVID Daily Dashboard.
Testing
Testing data comes from Public Health Scotland (PHS). The number of tests for each day reflect activity within the 24-hour period from midnight to midnight the previous day. The following image provides data from two sources of of testing:
As reported by NHS labs – this figure is higher than the number of people tested, as people could have more than one test.
Reported from the UK Government testing programme – including those reported from home testing kits and the social care portal, as well as drive throughs and mobile units.
Total number of daily PCR tests by testing source
This section is currently under review.
Source: Scottish Government
Cases
This section provides information on the daily number of cases. Until 14 June 2020 these numbers were based on tests carried out through NHS Scotland labs only. From 15 June 2020 they also include people tested through the UK Government testing programme.
From 6 January 2022 onward the data includes both PCR and LFD test results. Prior to this it is PCR only.
From 1 March 2022, the case numbers include possible reinfections. Reinfections are defined as individuals who test positive 90 days or more after their last positive test. The cumulative cases figure (reported from 1 March 2022) includes reinfections from the beginning of the pandemic onwards.
Reporting on 15/03/2022 covers data since Saturday 12 March due to the above reported technical issues.
Number of daily Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases
Source: Scottish Government
The following images show the positivity rate, which is the number of new positive cases as a percentage of the number of people newly tested.
Coronavirus (COVID 19) test positivity rate – PCR tests
This section is currently under review.
Source: Scottish Government
Hospitalisations
This section provides information on the number of patients in hospital. It includes numbers for:
- COVID-19 patients in ICU or combined ICU/HDU (with length of stay 28 days or less)
- COVID-19 patients in hospital (including those in ICU) (with length of stay 28 days or less)
- COVID-19 patients in ICU or combined ICU/HDU (with length of stay more than 28 days)
Number of people in hospital and ICU/HDU with Coronavirus (COVID 19)
Source: Scottish Government
Deaths
This section provides information on COVID-19 deaths. It provides the total figure recorded by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and the National Records of Scotland (NRS). HPS and NRS use different measures:
- Health Protection Scotland (HPS) – count all people who have had a positive test for COVID-19 and died within 28 days of their first positive test.
- National Records of Scotland (NRS) – all deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate by the doctor who certified the death. This includes cases where the doctor noted that there was suspected or probable coronavirus infection involved in the death.
Both are based on date of registration of the deaths.
From 10 February 2022, the number of deaths includes those where COVID-19 is confirmed by either a first Lateral Flow Device (LFD) or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test within 28 days. Because the policy change to include LFD results occurred on 5 January 2022, this applies to deaths occuring from 6 January onwards.
From 1 March 2022, this figure contains individuals who have died within 28 days of their first positive test and also within 28 days of a possible reinfection, where they have tested positive 90 or more days after their last positive test.
This means the cumulative total reported on 1 March 2022 includes 75 historic deaths as reinfections are now included from the start of the pandemic. There were 21 new deaths reported on 1 March 2022 covering the latest 24 hour period.
Total number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths as recorded by Health Protection Scotland and National Records of Scotland
Source: Scottish Government and National Records of Scotland
This chart shows the daily number of deaths recorded under the PHS measure.
Daily Coronavirus (COVID 19) deaths as recorded by Health Protection Scotland (HPS)
Source: Scottish Government
Andrew Aiton, Data Visualisation Manager, SPICe