Sturgeon will need to isolate for Covid to be tackled

Sir, – According to the National Records of Scotland (NRS), as of 27th September, there had been 4,257 deaths registered where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, 46% of which occurred in nursing homes.

Who ordered infected patients to be sent from hospitals to care homes? The Scottish Government. Who is the government’s final decision-maker on the issue? Nicola Sturgeon.

Nicola Sturgeon, who wants all the praise but accepts none of the responsibility.

In the week of September

7 to 13, there were five deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, although not necessarily the primary cause.

This is consistent with the number of weekly deaths since mid-July.

Of those who died between March and August, 92% had pre-existing medical conditions, Alzheimer’s disease being the most prominent.

The median age of the deceased, as of July, was 81 for men, 85 for women, largely in line with life expectancy for the respective genders in Scotland and victims in other countries.

For comparison with the period which saw the major impact of this virus in Scotland, the number of deaths registered in Scotland between April 1 and June 30 2019 was 13,652. That’s three times as many as for the whole period Covid-19 has been present and an average of 1,050 deaths per week.

Since mid July, we have had roughly five deaths per week where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

Five, out of a population of 5.5 million. Over 1,000 more people died each week from other causes last year.

Nicola Sturgeon should isolate herself for two weeks, or preferably much longer, and the real world can get on with sorting out the mess.

Prolonged silence from Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock would be very welcome too. Hamish Hossick. Strathern Road, Broughty Ferry.