Another 38 deaths linked to Covid-19 in latest weekly statistics

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A further 38 deaths linked to Covid-19 have been recorded in Northern Ireland in the latest weekly update.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) collated the number of fatalities in the week from September 18 to 24.

They take the total number of coronavirus-linked deaths recorded by Nisra to 3,443, higher than the 2,538 reported by the Department of Health to the same date.

The Nisra figure is drawn from different data sources and is always higher than the department’s total, 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.

A further 38 deaths linked to Covid-19 have been recorded in Northern Ireland in the latest weekly update.https://t.co/VMVjps8kuQ

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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 2,345 deaths in hospital, 829 in care homes, 14 in hospices and 255 at residential addresses or other locations.

Nisra reported that up to September 24, the deaths of 1,089 care home residents were linked to Covid-19, 31.6% of all coronavirus-related deaths.

Separate analysis, based on the date of death registration, shows the provisional number of total deaths from all causes registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending September 24 was 351 – 23 less than the previous week but 55 more than the five-year average (2016-2020) of 296.

People aged 75 and over account for 74.7% of the Covid-related deaths registered between March 19 2020 and September 24 2021.