There have been 159 tragic deaths resulting from COVID-19 in Ayrshire.

The updated figure, released by National Records of Scotland today, shows an increase of 39 since last week's total.

The death rate per 10,000 population has gone from 3.2 to 4.3.

The number shows deaths registered as related to confirmed or suspected coronavirus as marked on the death certificate.

Across Scotland, 39 per cent of deaths occurred in care homes and 52 per cent in hospitals.

6 NHS staff and 5 social care workers have died from the virus. The First Minister said they did not necessarily contract COVID-19 throught their work.

Nicola Sturgeon said: "I know how upsetting these numbers are to listen to because I know how upsetting they are to report on.

"There is a danger of feeling, when you hear numbers like this, dispirited, certainly very sad, but also powerless by the fact that the death toll is still so significant given all of our efforts in recent weeks.

"But everyone of us does have power to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community. Notwithstanding these figures, these deeply distressing figures and numbers of people dying, some of the earlier statistics that I have cited today show that we are making progress."

As of April 26, 2,272 deaths had been registered which mentioned COVID-19.

This number is different from the count of deaths published daily by the Scottish Government, because the latter is based on deaths of those who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The NRS figures include all deaths where COVID-19 (included suspected cases) was mentioned on the death certificate.

There have now been 745 confirmed coronavirus cases in Ayrshire and Arran, an increase of 7 since yesterday.

109 patients are being treated in hospitals with suspected or confirmed coronavirus, down 3 in 24 hours, and 6 are in ICU, up 1.

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