The number of people dying from coronavirus in West Dunbartonshire has more than tripled from last week, according to data from the National Records of Scotland published today.

The data showed that between February 15-21, eight people in West Dunbartonshire died where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The figure has more than tripled compared to the week prior, when only two people were reported to have died.

In total, 9,347 deaths have been registered in Scotland where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate, according to the statistics.

However, the total number of Covid-related deaths recorded in West Dunbartonshire is 220 from when the pandemic began last March.

The figures show 290 deaths relating to Covid-19 were registered between February 15 and 21, down 35 on the previous week.

Of these, the majority happened in hospital at 235, with 34 in care homes and 20 at home or in a non-institutional setting and one in another institution.

READ MORE: First Minister announces easing of restrictions in lockdown exit strategy

The statistics are published weekly and cover all deaths registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

They differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government because the NRS figures include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.

This news comes after the First Minister's announcement yesterday unveiling the route map out of lockdown into a tiered system beginning the last week of April.