Another 61 Covid-19 related deaths confirmed in Northern Ireland

By Q Radio News

Another 61 Covid-19 related deaths have occurred in Northern Ireland up until the end of last week. .

That's down from 68 in the previous week and 103 and 124 in the weeks before that.

According to the latest statistics the fatalities recorded in the week 13th to 19th February 2021 brings the total to 2,768.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) shows 1,802 (65.1%) deaths took place in hospitals, 753 (27.2%) in care homes, 13 (0.5%) in hospices and 200 (7.2%) at residential addresses or other locations. 

Of the 766 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 176 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health up until last week was 2,026. 

These figures are based on patients having previously tested positive for the virus, whereas the Nisra figures are based on information entered on death certificates for people who may or may not have previously tested positive.

Of the 983 deaths of care home residents between 18th March 2020 and 19th February 2021, 76.6% (753) occurred in a care home with the remaining 230 happening in hospital. 

That means care home residents now account for 35.5% of all Covid-19 related deaths, however no assumptions can be made in relation to where or when the deceased contracted the disease. 

The provisional number of total deaths from all causes registered here in the 7th week of the year (ending 19th February 2021) was 352. 

That’s 30 less than week 6, and 41 more than the 5-year average (2016-2020) which is 311.

“Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 78 (22.2%) of the 352 deaths registered in week 7, 2021, a fall from the previous week’s 99 Covid-19 related deaths and the fourth consecutive fall in the registration based series since the recent peak of 182 Covid-19 related deaths registered in the week ending 22nd January,” the latest Nisra report states. 

“The total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered to 19th February 2021 has now reached 2,751.

"Persons aged 75 and over accounted for 76.8% of the 2,751 Covid‑19 related deaths registered between 19th March 2020 and 19th February 2021.”

Seven Local Government districts had a higher proportion of all Covid-19 related deaths with Mid-Ulster topping the list at 7.9% relative to its share of all deaths 6.4% in Northern Ireland.