44 Covid-related deaths in latest week analysed by statistics agency Nisra

By David Young, PA

Forty-four deaths linked to Covid-19 have been recorded in the latest weekly update from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra).

The figure represents a drop in the weekly toll, down from 49 in the previous week, according to data compiled by Nisra.

The latest deaths, which happened in the week ending November 19, take the total number of coronavirus-linked fatalities recorded by Nisra to 3,832.

The Nisra figure is drawn from different data sources and is always higher than the Department of Health’s total, as it provides a broader picture of the impact of Covid-19.

On November 19, the department had reported 2,829 deaths.

The department’s statistics focus primarily on hospital deaths and only include people who have tested positive for the virus.

Nisra obtains its data from death certificates on which Covid-19 is recorded as a factor by a medical professional, regardless of where the death took place or whether the patient tested positive.

The statistics agency reports its Covid data with a week lag.

The Nisra figure includes 2,650 deaths in hospital, 860 in care homes, 15 in hospices and 307 at residential addresses or other locations.

Nisra reported that, up to November 19, the deaths of 1,133 care home residents were linked to Covid-19, 30% of all coronavirus-related deaths.

In the week to November 19, 42 coronavirus-linked deaths were officially registered in Northern Ireland.

Some of the fatalities registered in the week November 13 to November 19 could have occurred before that week, as deaths can take a number of days to register.

Those aged 75 and over accounted for 74% of the 3,804 Covid-19 related deaths registered between March 19 2020 and November 19 2021.