850 Covid-19 related deaths recorded in NI up until the 17th of July according to NISRA

By Q Radio News

New figures show 850 covid-19 related deaths have been recorded in Northern Ireland up until the 17th of July. 

According to the Statistics and Research Agency, 446 took place in hospital while 355 occured in care homes and hospices, involving 81 separate establishments. 

The others happened at private properties.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to 17th July was 556.

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.

They may or may not have previously tested positive for the virus.

Of the 850 total deaths, 446 (52.5%) occurred in hospital, 347 (40.8%) occurred in care homes, eight (0.9%) occurred in hospices and 49 (5.8%) occurred at residential addresses or another location. pic.twitter.com/2EZQN2FxJ6

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) July 24, 2020

Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents in hospital, shows that of the 427 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 in the year to date to 17th July 2020, 81.3% (347) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 80 occurring in hospital.

On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 50.2% of all Covid-19 related deaths; however, no assumptions can be made in relation to where or when the deceased contracted the disease. 

Separate analyses based on the date of death registration, shows that the provisional number of total deaths from all causes registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending 17th July 2020 (week 28) was 240, 35 less than in week 27 and 24 less than the 5-year average of 264.

Over the last 16 weeks in total, 997 ‘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 the year to date to 17th July totalling 738.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate for two (0.8%) of the 240 deaths registered in week 28. This is seven fewer than last week (week 27) and brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year 2020 to 846.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (65.7%) of all deaths and 79.9% of Covid‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to 17th July.

For Covid-19 related deaths, those with an address in Belfast Local Government District (LGD) accounted for 243 (28.7%) of the 846 deaths registered in the calendar year to 17th July.