Coronavirus Weekly update shows 29 more Covid-linked deaths in Northern Ireland

The figure represents a drop in the weekly toll, down from 40 in the previous week, according to data compiled by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra).

The latest deaths, which happened in the week ending December 3, take the total number of coronavirus-linked fatalities recorded by Nisra to 3,913.

The Nisra figure is drawn from different data sources and is always higher than the Department of Health’s total as it provides a broader picture of the impact of Covid-19.

On December 3, the department had reported 2,893 deaths.

The department’s statistics focus primarily on hospital deaths and only include people who have tested positive for the virus.

Nisra obtains its data from death certificates on which Covid-19 is recorded as a factor by a medical professional, regardless of where the death took place or whether the patient tested positive.

The statistics agency reports its Covid data with a week lag.

The Nisra figure includes 2,715 deaths in hospital, 864 in care homes, 15 in hospices and 319 at residential addresses or other locations.

Nisra reported that up to December 3, the deaths of 1,137 care home residents were linked to Covid-19, 29% of all coronavirus-related fatalities.

Covid-19 was also mentioned on the death certificate of 29 of the 378 deaths registered in the week to December 3.

Some of the fatalities registered in the week November 27 to December 3 could have occurred before that week, as deaths can take a number of days to register.

Those aged 75 and over accounted for 73.7% of the 3,898 Covid-related deaths registered between March 19 2020 and December 3 2021.