NISRA records 36 covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland last week

by Q Radio News

Official figures show 36 deaths involving covid-19 occurred in Northern Ireland in the week from 14th to 20th August. 

It brings the death toll according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency to 3,140. 

In comparison the Department of Health reported 2,291 covid related deaths during the same period, 

The difference in data is due to the way in which the two bodies record their data. 

The department count is based on patients who died after testing positive for the virus, whereas NISRA figures are based on information entered on death certificates. 

Meanwhile, of NISRA's total of 3,140 deaths, 2,097 (66.8%) took place in hospitals. 

794 (25.3%) occurred in care homes, 14 (0.4%) in hospices and 235 (7.5%) at residential addresses or other locations. 

Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents by place of death, shows that there was a total of 1,039 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 occurring between 18th March 2020 and 20th August 2021.

This accounts for 33.1% of all Covid-19 related deaths. However, no assumptions can be made in relation to where the deceased contracted the disease.

Separate analysis, 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 20th August 2021 (week 33, 2021) was 343, 12 more than in week 32 and 64 more than the 5-year average (2016-2020) of 279.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for 75.5% of the 3,129 Covid‑19 related deaths registered between 19th March 2020 and 20th August 2021.

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 (12.1% and 8.2% respectively) compared with their share of all deaths in Northern Ireland (10.3% and 6.5% respectively).

Conversely, Ards & North Down and Fermanagh & Omagh both have relatively low shares of registered Covid-19 related deaths (2.8 and 2.6 percentage points lower respectively than their share of all deaths).