A further five deaths were recorded as a result of Covid-19 in Stirling last week according to the latest data.

The figures from the National Records of Scotland reveal that a total of 49 coronavirus deaths have taken place in Stirling up until May 10.

Three of those deaths were recorded as having taken place at care homes, with the report revealing that the proportion of total deaths across the country taking place in care homes over the last week had fallen slightly to 57 per cent.

Across the Forth Valley Health Board region as a whole, a further 31 deaths were registered last week - taking the regional death toll to 187.

The majority of those dying in the NHS Forth Valley area - 95 - did so in care homes with 74 dying in hospital and 18 at home.

The data also reveals that more than nine in ten of those dying from Covid-19 had at least one pre-existing medical condition, while three quarters of all fatalities have been among those aged 75 or over.

This prompted First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to urge those currently ‘shielding’ due to their susceptibility to the virus to keep the faith with the lockdown measures.

She said: “I know for some of you, as you enter your seventh or eighth week of shielding, you will be feeling incredible levels of frustration.”

“This crisis is in many ways much harder for you, than for those living with the standard restrictions which are in place for all of us. And so it is important to me, that you know that support is available to you.

“I also want you to know that you are not being forgotten as we think about our next steps, and about how we adapt to live with a new normal where this virus is present. Your needs and quality of life remain central to our thinking.”

This week’s NRS data shows a second consecutive fall in the number of deaths attributed to Covid-19 across Scotland, with 3,213 fatailities recorded - a rise of 415.

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