The number of official Covid19 related deaths continue to fall in NI

By Q Radio News

Official figures show there were 10 deaths involving Covid19 in Northern Ireland last week. 

That's down from 14 recorded the week before. 

It brings the total number of fatalities recorded by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency to 2,947 up until the 16th of April.

In comparison, the Department of Health recorded 2,134. 

The latest stats published today by NISRA show that of the 2,947 Covid-19 related deaths, 1,945 (66.0%) took place in hospital, 772 (26.2%) in care homes, 14 (0.5%) in hospices and 216 (7.3%) at residential addresses or other locations.

“Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents in hospital, shows that of the 1,008 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 which occurred between 18th March 2020 and 16th April 2021,” the report states. 

“76.6% (772) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 236 occurring in hospital. 

"On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 34.2% 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 16th April 2021 (week 15, 2021) was 289, 44 more than in week 14 and 27 less than the 5-year average (2016-2020) of 316.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 16 (5.5%) of the 289 deaths registered in week 15, an increase of seven from the previous week (though the Easter public holiday in week 14 may have impacted on this rise). 
The total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered to 16th April 2021 has now reached 2,942.

People aged 75 and over accounted for 76.1% of the 2,942 Covid‑19 related deaths registered between 19th March 2020 and 16th April 2021. 

The latest report also reveals which local districts have experienced the most Covid related deaths.

“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 (12.1% and 8.3% respectively) compared with their share of all deaths in Northern Ireland (10.4% and 6.5% respectively),” it states. 

“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 (2.4 and 2.5 percentage points respectively lower than their share of all deaths).”