Coronavirus NI: 975 excess deaths in NI in last 12 weeks - COVID-19 death-toll up to 816 according to NISRA - 348 deaths occurred in 78 different care homes and hospices

Latest figures published today by NISRA show that 12 deaths involving COVID-19 occurred in the last week, from June 13 to 19, bringing the total of COVID-19 related deaths to 816.

Of this total, 420 (51.5%) took place in hospital, 340 (41.7%) in care homes, eight (1.0%) in hospices and 48 (5.9%) at residential addresses or other locations.

The 348 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 78 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health (DoH) to June 19 was 545.

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.

Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents in hospital, shows that of the 414 deaths of care home residents involving COVID-19 in the year to date to June 19, 2020, 82.1% (340) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 74 occurring in hospital.

On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 50.7% 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 June 19 2020 (week 24) was 290, two fewer than in week 23 and four more than the five-year average of 286.

Over the last 12 weeks in total, 975 ‘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 June 19 totalling 716.

COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate for 17 (5.9%) of the 290 deaths registered in week 24. This is four fewer than last week (week 23) and brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year 2020 to 812.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (66.3%) of all deaths and 79.9% of COVID‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to June 19.

For COVID-19 related deaths, those with an address in Belfast Local Government District (LGD) accounted for 238 (29.3%) of the 812 deaths registered in the calendar year to June 19.

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