COVID-19 related deaths reporting frequency change by NRS (National Records Scotland): FOI release

Information requested

"On what date did a minister of The Scottish Government instruct the National Records of Scotland (NRS) to move from weekly reporting of deaths involving Covid-19 to the monthly reporting of these death statistics?"

Response

The answer to your question is that National Records of Scotland (NRS) continues to report a weekly figure on deaths involving COVID-19. These data can be found in the SG ‘4 Harms’ website alongside other relevant information here:
https://data.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/detail.html
NRS also continues to publish a detailed analysis of COVID-19 related deaths on a monthly basis – this product also provides the weekly data.

In accordance with the Official Statistics Code of Practice, decisions on frequency of publication are made by the Head of Profession (Statistics). National Records of Scotland consulted with users of the weekly publication, including Scottish Government. NRS concluded that due to the thankfully low number of weekly deaths, user needs would be well met through the update to the SG website and the NRS monthly publication. The last weekly NRS publication was released on 12 August 2020. 

Should there be a significant change in the levels of COVID-19 related mortality, NRS will consider the benefit of re-introducing a weekly NRS publication.

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