THE number of deaths relating to coronavirus in Argyll and Bute this year has almost doubled over the last seven days.

According to figures released today (Wednesday) by National Records of Scotland (NRS) there have been a further seven deaths in the region where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate since the week commencing Monday, February 15.

The area's total in 2021 is now 17, while the toll since the beginning of the pandemic last March has now reached a grim milestone of 103.

Argyll and Bute's latest data also marks the highest number of Covid deaths in the area in seven days since the week of April 27 to May 3 last year, when 13 lives were lost to the disease.

Only during the three-week period from April 13 to May 3 were more deaths relating to Covid-19 recorded in the region in the space of seven days.

A total of 9,347 people have died in Scotland with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, according to the NRS.

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.

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.