A TOTAL of 58 people with coronavirus died in the Borders up to May 24, according to statistics.

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) published its weekly update yesterday (May 27).

The figures show four more deaths in the region since the previous update.

All of those deaths happened in hospitals, according to the NRS, with no change to the tally in care homes (five).

The number of deaths in homes (and other non-institutions) also remains the same, standing at six.

Previously, care homes had seen a rise in deaths – from three, on May 10, to five on May 17.

The NRS statistics are based on deaths where COVID-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate.

By contrast, NHS Borders reports hospital deaths only where patients have tested positive for the virus.

The latest update from NHS Borders, released on May 26, showed 35 patients have died.