COVID-19 statistical report
27 May 2020

About this release

This weekly release by Public Health Scotland presents data on COVID-19 across NHSScotland.

Main points

• As at 25 May 2020, there have been 15,156 confirmed COVID-19 cases, equating to 277 confirmed cases per 100,000 population.
• As at 24 May 2020, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit was 508, compared to 502 as at 17 May 2020.
• As at 24 May 2020, the average number of patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit over the previous seven days was less than 1 patient per day.

** please refer to background section for caveat.

Wider impact detailed analysis

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have a wider impact on health and care as a result of the lockdown, economic pressures and changes to health services.

A range of analyses on the impact of COVID-19 across aspects of NHS Scotland is available on the interactive information tool (external website).

Background

On 1 March 2020, the first person in Scotland was tested positive for COVID-19. On the 17 March NHS Scotland was placed in an emergency footing by the Cabinet Secretary. Schools have been closed since 20 March and the country has been in lockdown since 23 March. Since the start of the outbreak, Public Health Scotland (PHS) has been working closely with the Scottish Government and health and care colleagues to support the surveillance and monitoring of COVID-19 amongst the population. There is a large amount of data being regularly published regarding COVID-19 (for example, Coronavirus in Scotland – Scottish Government and Deaths involving coronavirus in Scotland – National Records of Scotland). This report complements the range of existing data currently available.

** Counts include any patient with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test (confirmed by linkage to ECOSS) taken prior to discharge from an ICU in Scotland. Counts do not include any COVID-19 suspected cases who have not yet been lab confirmed. Therefore there may be a lag for recent days where patients may still be awaiting the results of COVID-19 tests. Counts do not include any re-admissions from COVID-19 patients previously admitted to an ICU and re-admitted post discharge; counts are unique patients only. Patients are identified using their unique personal identifier (UPI) within the ICU admissions system; where possible taken from the patient’s CHI number. There may be a very small number of patients where CHI was not recorded as UPI, for whom linkage to ECOSS for COVID-19 status may not have been possible, but this is unlikely. Data are correct as at the time of data extract at 9am on Sunday May 24th 2020. Data are reviewed and validated on a continuous basis and so may be subject to change. The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation.