Flu Deaths In Scotland Highest For Over 20 Years And Covid Deaths Rising Again

19th January 2023

Deaths involving COVID-19 Analysis for December 2022 and for week 2 of 2023.

As at 15 January 2023, 16,568 deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate, according to statistics published today by National Records of Scotland (NRS).

In the latest week, 101 deaths were registered that mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate, 17 more than in the previous week.

The number of deaths from all causes registered in Scotland in this week was 2,020, which is 450, or 29%, more than the five year average.

Our monthly analysis shows that the age standardised death rate for deaths involving COVID-19 rose in December 2022 (59 per 100,000) compared to November 2022 (40 per 100,000). Throughout the pandemic, the highest rate of COVID-related deaths was 585 per 100,000 people in April 2020.

Of the 16,455 deaths involving COVID-19 between March 2020 and December 2022, 93% (15,383) had at least one pre-existing condition, with the most common being dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said, "The latest figures show that last week there were 101 deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. This is 17 more than in the previous week.

"Deaths involving influenza have risen in recent weeks. There were 121 deaths where influenza was mentioned on the death certificate in week 2 of this year, up from 91 in the previous week. This is the highest weekly number of flu deaths registered in over twenty years."

There have been nine deaths in Scotland in which the underlying cause of death was due to the adverse effects of vaccination against COVID-19, and four further deaths where an adverse effect was mentioned on the death certificate. This is no change from the figure reported last month. The latest available statistics show that 4.56 million people in Scotland have received at least one vaccine dose.

Deaths from all causes, weekly registrations
• The total number of deaths registered in Scotland in week 2 of 2023 was 2,020. This was 450 deaths more than the five year average for week 2 (29% above average).
• In week 2 there were 162 excess deaths at home or in non-institutional settings (36% above average), 162 excess deaths in hospitals (21% above average), and 123 excess deaths in care homes (35% above average) compared to the five-year average.
• There were 450 more deaths across all locations for the latest week. Respiratory deaths were 176 above average, cancer deaths were 88 above average, circulatory deaths were 51 above average and dementia and Alzheimer's deaths were 50 above average. There were 97 excess deaths from other causes. The number of deaths where COVID-19 was the underlying cause was 74.
• Deaths involving influenza have risen in recent weeks. There were 121 deaths where influenza was mentioned on the death certificate in week 2, up from 91 in the previous week. This is the highest weekly number of flu deaths registered in over twenty years.

The publication Deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland is available on the NRS website. See https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/covid19stats