by Q Radio News
206 Covid-19 related deaths were recorded in Northern Ireland over the Christmas period.
The new figures were recorded by the Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
It brings the death toll recorded by NISRA to 1,895.
In comparison the Department of Health recorded 1,349 during the same period.
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.
The difference is due to the way the two bodies record their data.
A further 206 Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland have been recorded by @NISRA.
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 8, 2021
The deaths occurred between 19th December 2020 and New Year's Day.
115 deaths occurred in the week leading up to Christmas Day and 91 the week after.
Total Covid-19 related deaths: 1895 pic.twitter.com/U53fZxi9ns
115 deaths occurred in the week leading up to Christmas Day and 91 the week after.
Of the 1,895 total deaths, NISRA says 1,150 (60.7%) took place in hospital, 607 (32.0%) in care homes, 10 (0.5%) in hospices and 128 (6.8%) at residential addresses or other locations.
The 617 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 146 separate establishments.
According to the Agency's figures, over the last 40 weeks in total (since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic), 1,987 ‘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 2020 totalling 1,728.
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