Figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that in the first 19 weeks of 2019 there were 709 deaths recorded locally from all causes.
But this year’s overall death toll for the region is already at 821. And 46 of them mention Covid-19 on the death certificate.
It means Dumfries and Galloway’s coronavirus death rate is currently 3.1 per cent (per 10,000 population), one of the lower rates in Scotland.
NRS figures include both positive and suspected deaths from Covid-19 and therefore differ slightly from the numbers published by the local NHS, which only carries confirmed cases. Their death toll had today risen to 44, from 40 last week.
The NHS also revealed that so far there have been 255 positive tests for the virus in this area and that 79 hospitalised patients have since recovered. Most of the local deaths have occurred in a hospital setting (36), with nine in care homes locally and one at home.
