Weekly COVID-19 deaths continue to rise with 37 recorded last week

By Q Radio News

The weekly Covid-19 death toll in Northern Ireland ha continued to rise.

There were 37 Covid-19 deaths recorded by the region’s statistics agency, up from 10 the previous week.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) bulletin, which reports with a week lag, put the death toll at the end of last week at 979.

The 37 deaths occurred in the week October 17 to 23.

The comparative total number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health stood at 643 on 23rd October.

The Nisra data gives a fuller picture of Covid-19 fatalities than the figures released by the department.

The department’s statistics focus primarily on hospital deaths and only includes people who have tested positive for the virus.

Nisra obtains its data from death certificates in which Covid-19 is recorded as a factor by a medical professional, regardless of where the death took place.

The person may or may not have tested positive for the virus.

Of the 979 deaths recorded by NISRA by 23rd October, 547 (55.9%) took place in hospital, 363 (37.1%) in care homes, eight (0.8%) in hospices and 61 (6.2%) at residential addresses or other locations.

Of the 979 total deaths involving Covid-19 occurring up to 23rd October, 547 (55.9%) occurred in hospital, 363 (37.1%) occurred in care homes, eight (0.8%) occurred in hospices and 61 (6.2%) occurred at residential addresses or another location. https://t.co/KmdVrvPf6p pic.twitter.com/8alxLVI6pS

— NISRA (@NISRA) October 30, 2020

The 371 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 88 separate establishments.

Nisra also analyses the total number of care home residents who have died, whether in their home or in hospital, having been transferred for treatment.

Up to 23rd October, the deaths of 451 care home residents were linked to coronavirus, 88 of which occurred in hospital.

Care home residents make up about 46.1% of all deaths linked to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.