There were 523 deaths relating to Covid-19 registered between April 27 and May 3, a decrease of 135 from the previous week of April 20-26, according to the NRS.

A total of 2,795 deaths involving the virus had been recorded as of May 3, with the proportion of coronavirus deaths recorded in care homes rising on last week to 59%.

The figures are published weekly and account for all fatalities registered in Scotland where Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.

First Minister of Scotland speaks during a special social distancing coronavirus First Ministers Questions at the Scottish Parliament Holyrood. (Photo by Fraser Bremner - Pool / Getty Images)

They differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government using Health Protection Scotland (HPS) figures because they include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon “I think it is important to note that this is the first weekly reduction in Covid-19 deaths we’ve seen since the first death related to the virus was registered.”

She said it was “deeply distressing” that 59% of deaths recorded by NRS last week happened in care homes, but said it was important to note that the number of deaths in care homes had also fallen compared with previous weeks.

Outside of care homes, the new weekly figures show 37% of registered deaths involving Covid-19 were in hospitals and 4% were at home or non-institutional settings, compared to 42% and 6% the previous week.

The total number of all deaths registered in Scotland from April 27 to May 3 was 1,673 - 55% more than the average number of deaths registered in the same week over the last five years, which was 1,079.

The previous week of April 20 to April 26 was nearly 68% higher than the five-year weekly average.

Covid-19 was the underlying cause of death in 83% of the 594 excess deaths, down from 85% the previous week.

Three-quarters of registered deaths involving Covid-19 to date were people aged 75 or over.

Pete Whitehouse, director of statistical services at NRS, said: "These statistics, alongside the other important evidence being made available by the Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland, are valuable to the understanding of the progress and impact of the Covid-19 virus across Scotland.”

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2,795 Covid-19 linked deaths in Scotland, as number dying from virus falls week-to-week for first time

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