Coronavirus: NI death-toll now more than 600 - total number of care home deaths 269

Statistics published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) on Friday morning reveal there 599 COVID-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland up until May 8.

The Department of Health (DoH) has recorded deaths everyday since May 8 which means the Northern Ireland death-toll is now more than 600.

Of the 599 deaths recorded by NISRA 294 (49.1%) took place in hospital, 269 (44.9%) in care homes, five (0.8%) in hospices and 31 (5.2%) at residential addresses or other locations.

The 274 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 71 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the DoH to May 8 was 432.

These figures are based on patients having previously tested positive for the virus, whereas 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.

Separate analyses based on the date of death registration, shows that the provisional number of total deaths registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending May 8 2020 (week 18) was 336, 91 fewer than in week 17, but 62 more than the five year average of 274. Over the last six weeks in total, 766 ‘excess deaths’ (deaths above the average for the corresponding period in previous years) have been registered in Northern Ireland.

COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate for 84 (25.0%) of the 336 deaths registered in week 18, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year 2020 to 578.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (67%) of all deaths and 78.2% of COVID‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to May 8.