NISRA figures reveal fall in number of Covid deaths

LATEST figures published today by NISRA show that 12 deaths involving COVID-19 occurred from  June 13 to 19, bringing the total of COVID-19 related deaths to 816.

The new figures reveal that the number of Covid-related deaths in Northern Ireland has fallen. 

Seventeen Covid deaths were registered in the week ending June 19 resulting in a fall from 21 fatalities from the previous week.

Of the total, 420 (51.5%) took place in hospital, 340 (41.7%) in care homes, eight (1.0%) in hospices and 48 (5.9%) at residential addresses or other locations.

The 348 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 78 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to June 19 was 545.

In the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area, NISRA report that there have 16 deaths in comparision to the Department of Health’s figure of 10.

In Derry City and Strabane District Council area, NISRA report that there have been 28 deaths, while the Department of Health have reported 21 deaths.

In the Mid Ulster Council area, the Department of Health recorded 30 deaths, while NISRA reported 43 deaths.

The Department of Health 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 414 deaths of care home residents involving COVID-19 in the year to date to June 19 2020, 82.1% (340) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 74 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 50.7% 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 19th June 2020 (week 24) was 290, two fewer than in week 23 and four more than the five-year average of 286. Over the last 12 weeks in total, 975 ‘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 19th June totalling 716.

COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate for 17 (5.9%) of the 290 deaths registered in week 24. This is four fewer than last week (week 23) and brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year 2020 to 812.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (66.3%) of all deaths and 79.9% of COVID‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to 19th June.

For COVID-19 related deaths, those with an address in Belfast Local Government District (LGD) accounted for 238 (29.3%) of the 812 deaths registered in the calendar year to 19th June.