9 Coronavirus related deaths occurred in Northern Ireland last week

By Q Radio News

New figures published today by NISRA show that 9 COVID-19 related deaths occurred last week up to 18th September.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency say there have now been 896 Coronavirus related deaths.

Of this total, 479 (53.5%) took place in hospital, 355 (39.6%) in care homes, eight (0.9%) in hospices and 54 (6.0%) at residential addresses or other locations.

The 363 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 84 separate establishments.

Figures from the Department of Health show there were 575 COVID-19 related deaths up to the 18th September.

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.

Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents in hospital, shows that of the 436 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 in the year to date to 18th September 2020, 81.4% (355) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 81 occurring in hospital.

On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 48.7% 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 18th September 2020 (week 37) was 322, 26 more than in week 36 and 40 more than the 5-year average of 282.

Over the last 25 weeks in total, 1,181 ‘excess deaths’ (deaths above the average for the corresponding period in previous years) have been registered in Northern Ireland, with the number of ‘excess deaths’ in the year to date to 18th September totalling 922.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of eight (2.5%) of the 322 deaths registered in week 37.  This is one more than last week (week 36) and brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year up to 18th September to 891.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (64.6%) of all deaths and 79.1% of Covid‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to 18th September.

For Covid-19 related deaths, those with an address in Belfast Local Government District (LGD) accounted for 253 (28.4%) of the 891 deaths registered in the calendar year to 18th September.