Deaths in Scotland attributed to Covid-19: FOI release

Information requested

1. How many deaths in Scotland can be attributed to COVID 19 only. As in these deaths have no other explanation or comorbidities or underlying health issues.

2. I would also like to know the average age of these deaths where COVID was the only explanation of death.

Response

The information you have requested is available from National Records of Scotland (NRS), available on their website: Deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

NRS are responsible for vital events statistics in Scotland and publish weekly statistics on deaths involving COVID-19. Specifically in response to your request, in the monthly report they include analysis on pre-existing medical conditions, see Figure 7 data in the report from 19 January 2022. The category 'none' represents all deaths where there were no other pre-existing medical conditions noted on the death certificate, available by month.

For a breakdown of deaths involving COVID-19 by pre-existing condition and age, you may wish to refer to Pre-existing conditions by age from the Related Statistics page.

About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.