TWO more people have died from Covid-19 in Argyll and Bute, according to data from the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

The two deaths during the week from February 22-28 take the total number of lives lost to the virus in the area to 105 since the start of the pandemic.

However, it's significantly lower than in the week from February 15-21, when seven deaths were reported in the area in which Covid was mentioned on the death certificate.

Nineteen such deaths have now been recorded in Argyll and Bute since the start of 2021.

In total, 9,580 deaths have been registered in Scotland where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate, according to the statistics.

Across Scotland, the figures show 227 deaths relating to Covid-19 were registered between February 22 and 28, down 64 on the previous week.

Of these, the majority happened in hospital (187), with 26 in care homes and 14 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.

This news comes after the First Minister's announcement yesterday that lockdown easing may begin sooner if the data continues to be positive.