Official figures reveal another three Covid19 related deaths in Northern Ireland

By Q Radio News

Official figures show three deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in Northern Ireland last week. 

It brings the death toll according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency to 2,975 up until 28th May. 

In comparison, the department of health recorded 2,153 during the same period.

''Of the 2,975 Covid-19 related deaths, 1,971 (66.3%) took place in hospital, 774 (26.0%) in care homes, 14 (0.5%) in hospices and 216 (7.3%) at residential addresses or other locations,'' the Nisra report states. 

''The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to 28th May 2021 was 2,153.''

These figures are based on patients having previously tested positive for the virus, whereas the NISRA figures are based on the information entered on death certificates completed by medical professionals.

They may or may not have previously tested positive for the virus and therefore include both confirmed and suspected cases, and where Covid-19 was either a contributor to or the main cause of death.

The report continues: ''Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents in hospital, shows that of the 1,011 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 which occurred between 18th March 2020 and 28th May 2021, 76.6% (774) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 237 occurring in hospital.

''On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 34.0% of all Covid-19 related deaths; however, no assumptions can be made in relation to where or when the deceased contracted the disease.

''Separate analyses, based on the date of death registration, shows that the provisional number of total deaths from all causes registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending 28th May 2021 (week 21, 2021) was 265, 54 less than in week 20 and 19 less than the 5-year average (2016-2020) of 284.

''Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of three (1.1%) of the 265 deaths registered in week 21, a decrease of one death from the previous week. The total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered to 28th May 2021 has now reached 2,974.''

Over 75s accounted for 76.1% of the 2,974 Covid‑19 related deaths registered between 19th March 2020 and 28th May 2021.

Over the period of the pandemic, Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon and Mid-Ulster Local Government Districts have had higher proportions of Covid-19 related deaths (12.0% and 8.4% respectively) compared with their share of all deaths in Northern Ireland (10.3% and 6.5% respectively).

Conversely, Ards & North Down and Fermanagh & Omagh both have relatively low shares of registered Covid-19 related deaths when compared to the proportion of Northern Ireland deaths registered in those areas (2.5 percentage points each lower than their share of all deaths).