THE UK'S statistics watchdog has been urged to investigate claims about coronavirus deaths made by Scotland's National Clinical Director.

Claims made by Professor Jason Leitch last month have now been referred to the UK Statistics Authority's chief executive Professor Sir Ian Diamond.

In February  Mr Leitch said during the daily televised coronavirus briefing that "nobody died of Covid between the 17th of July and the 18th of August, 28 days after a positive Covid test”.

However Scottish Tories health spokesman Donald Cameron MSP has questioned his statement, and says the measure used by the Clinical Director was not accurate.

Mr Cameron said the measure chosen by Professor Leitch was of people who died with a confirmed positive Covid test, rather than a weekly measure including deaths where doctors say Covid was a factor.

He said that in the time period referred to by Professor Leitch, 24 people in Scotland had died where Covid-19 was mentioned as a factor on their death certificate according to the National Records of Scotland.

Mr Leitch made the statements on February 26 during the coronavirus briefing, when he was asked about comments made by another expert Professor Mark Woolhouse the previous day. 

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Mr Woolhouse, chair of infectious disease epidemiology at Edinburgh University told Holyrood’s Covid-19 Committee that the actual number of positive coronavirus cases in Scotland never fell below 500, according to “very well validated” modelling.

The First Minister and Mr Leitch had previously insisted that Scotland was “close” to eliminating the virus after the first wave last summer – before infections were reseeded from other parts of the UK and from overseas.

Mr Woolhouse had said: “Scotland was not close to elimination at any stage during this epidemic.” 

Mr Leitch was addressing those remarks.

The Herald: Donald Cameron MSP. Pic - Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament

Now Mr Cameron has referred Mr Leitch's comments to the national statistics watchdog and asked them to investigate. 

In a letter sent this weekend, he said: "You may be aware of recent media reports concerning a statistic that was used by the National Clinical Director for Scotland, Prof. Jason Leitch, at the Scottish Government’s daily COVID-19 briefing on Friday 26th February 2021. 

"While this particular statistic may be technically true, I am concerned that it could be misleading, as it does not include deaths where a doctor determined that COVID-19 was a factor in the death. 

"Additionally, in the same news conference Prof. Leitch stated this fact again. In response to a question on Prof. Woolhouse’s comments, from [a journalist], he stated, ‘We had a month with nobody dying of Covid, three months after a lockdown’.

"The National Records for Scotland indicated that in the same period that Prof. Leitch referred to, there were 24 people who died where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.  

"I would be grateful if you could investigate the claim made by Prof. Jason Leitch, and take appropriate action as you see fit."

READ MORE: Scotland 'close to eliminating coronavirus before travel brought new strains'

Mr Cameron MSP said: “Shameless spin and distorting the truth has become second nature to SNP politicians but public health officials must be completely straight with people.

“Nicola Sturgeon’s claim of the virus being almost eliminated in Scotland last summer has been completely debunked and it is irresponsible and ill-judged for anyone to claim otherwise.

“Even though the UK’s world-leading vaccine programme is allowing Scotland to slowly return to normal, it is still vitally important that people trust public health messages.

“Misleading the public is dangerous but also disrespectful to those who passed away during that time.

“I would expect the UK Statistics Authority to conduct an investigation and take the necessary appropriate action.”

The Herald:

 A Scottish Government spokeswoman said the Scottish Conservatives claims were "misleading" and reiterated Mr Leitch's statement.

She said: "These claims are misleading and we have responded to them already to be very clear that between the 17th of July and the 18th of August 2020 in Scotland there were no deaths from COVID-19 within 28 days of a positive test.

“Regardless of age, every reported death from this virus is a tragedy, causing grief and heartbreak to families across the country. "Our deepest condolences go to everyone who has lost a loved one during this pandemic.

“Last summer we managed to maximally suppress the virus, but we did not eliminate it. That is why it is vital we all continue to follow the rules as set out in FACTS - and we will eventually reach the end of this pandemic by working together.”

The UK Statistics Authority did not respond to a request for comment last night.