Figures show 29 Covid-related deaths in NI last week - down from forty in the previous week

By Q Radio News

Latest figures published today by NISRA show that 29 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred last week - down from 40 the previous week.

The statistics body also shows that the total number of Covid-19 related deaths up until Friday now stands at 3,913.

Of these, 2,715 (69.4%) took place in hospital, 864 (22.1%) in care homes, 15 (0.4%) in hospices and 319 (8.2%) at residential addresses or other locations.

The figure from the Department of Health for the same period was 2,893. 

BREAKING: Official figures show there were 29 deaths involving Covid -19 in Northern Ireland last week - down from 40 the previous week. Statistics body NISRA says the total number of deaths from the disease up until last Friday now stands at 3,913. pic.twitter.com/gw9v4o3i47

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 10, 2021

The Department of Health count is 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 and therefore include both confirmed and suspected cases, and where Covid-19 was either a contributor to or the main cause of death.

Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents by place of death, shows that there was a total of 1,137 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 (including deaths that took place somewhere other than the care home) occurring between 18 March 2020 and 3 December 2021.

This accounts for 29.1% of all Covid-19 related deaths. However, no assumptions can be made in relation to where the deceased contracted the disease.

Over the period of the pandemic, Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon and Mid-Ulster Local Government Districts have had higher proportions of Covid-19 related deaths (12.4% and 8.2% respectively) compared with their share of all deaths in Northern Ireland (10.4% and 6.6% respectively).

Conversely, Ards & North Down and Fermanagh & Omagh both have relatively low shares of registered Covid-19 related deaths (2.2 and 2.1 percentage points lower respectively than their share of all deaths).

(Covid-19 generic photo)