Coronavirus: More than 10% of all NI deaths caused by Covid

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has published its quarterly bulletin reflecting Covid-19 related deaths that occurred in Northern Ireland between 1st March and 31st August 2020.

The statistics show that Covid-19 related deaths (875) accounted for 10.9% of all deaths over the period

The bulletin reports that the age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) for March to August was 55.2 per 100,000 persons.

Males had a significantly higher rate of death linked to Covid-19 - the ASMR for males was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 of the male population compared with 45.8 deaths per 100,000 females.

Monthly Covid-19 ASMRs per 100,000 were highest in April (36.7 for males and 23.4 for females) and lowest in August (1.9 for males and 0.6 for females).

Belfast had the highest Covid-19 related ASMR with 90.0 deaths per 100,000, followed by the neighbouring Antrim and Newtownabbey LGD at 73.1 (per 100,000).

Fermanagh and Omagh had the lowest Covid-19 related ASMR of 17.2 (per 100,000), followed by the neighbouring Derry and Strabane with an ASMR of 27.0 (per 100,000).

For Assembly Areas, Belfast West (113.7), Belfast North (93.5) and Belfast East (90.8) had the highest Covid-19 related ASMRs per 100,000 while South Down had the lowest ASMR (19.9).

Adjusting for differing age structures within the population, Covid-19 related ASMRs were highest for the 20% most deprived areas at 66.0 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by the 20% least deprived areas at 60.4 deaths. This compares with an ASMR of 55.2 per 100,000 persons for Northern Ireland as a whole.

One hundred and two of the 875 (11.7%) Covid-19 related deaths were persons of working age (aged 20-69), of which the largest group (40 persons; 39.2%) were in the skilled trades, elementary occupations or process, plant and machine operative occupational groups.