NISRA weekly update: Another 35 Covid-related deaths

By Q Radio News/PA

Latest weekly figures published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) today show there were 35 deaths involving Covid-19 last week in Northern Ireland.

According to the statistics body the total number of Covid-19 related deaths up until last Friday stands at 4,181.

The comparative number of deaths reported by the Department of Health for the same period was 3,104.

NISRA weekly update: Another 35 Covid-related deaths. #COVID19 https://t.co/roVeFdFS9F

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 4, 2022

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

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 2,925 deaths in hospital, 890 in care homes and 366 at residential addresses, hospices or other locations.

NISRA reported that, up to January 28, the deaths of 1,171 care home residents were linked to Covid-19, 28% of all coronavirus-related deaths.

Covid-19 was also mentioned on the death certificate of 38 of the 336 deaths registered in the week to January 28.

Some of the deaths registered in the week ending January 28 could have taken place before that week, as fatalities can take a number of days to register.

Those aged 75 and over account for 73.2% of the Covid-related deaths registered between March 19 2020 and January 28 2022.