7 new COVID-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland last week, according to NISRA

By Q Radio News

New figures from NISRA reveal 7 new COVID-19 related deaths occured last week from 8th August to 14th August.

The body states that 866 people have now died in relation to COVID-19.

Deaths of care home residents accounted for 49.8% of Coronavirus related deaths.

52.7% of these total deaths occurred in hospitals, 40.5% in care homes, 0.9% in care homes and the rest at home. 

The 359 deaths that happened in care homes and hospices involved 81 separate establishments.

Today's data differs the comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to 14th August . It reported 558 COVID-19 related fatalities.

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.

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 14th August 2020 (week 32) was 278, two less than in week 31 and thirteen more than the 5-year average of 265.

Over the last 20 weeks in total, 1,048 ‘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 14th August totalling 789.

COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of four (1.4%) of the 278 deaths registered in week 32.  This is one less than last week and brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year 2020 to 863.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (64.9%) of all deaths and 80.0% of COVID‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to 14th August.

For COVID-19 related deaths, those with an address in Belfast Local Government District (LGD) accounted for 248 (28.7%) of the 863 deaths registered in the calendar year to 14th August.