NI coronavirus death toll now approaching 3,000, latest NISRA figures show

The coronavirus death toll reported by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency has increased to nearly 3,000.
By Niall Deeney
Published 2nd Apr 2021, 09:45 BST
Updated 2nd Apr 2021, 09:50 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The latest statistics from the agency show that 13 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the week 20th to 26th March 2021. The total number of Covid-19 related deaths that occurred up to 26th March 2021 has now reached 2,908. Of the 2,908 Covid-19 related deaths, 1,910 (65.7%) took place in hospital, 770 (26.5%) in care homes, 14 (0.5%) in hospices and 214 (7.4%) at residential addresses or other locations.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to 26th March 2021 was 2,108. 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 and therefore include both confirmed and suspected cases, and where Covid-19 was either a contributor to or the main cause of death.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents in hospital, shows that of the 1,006 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 which occurred between 18th March 2020 and 26th March 2021, 76.5% (770) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 236 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 34.6% of all Covid-19 related deaths; however, no assumptions can be made in relation to where or when the deceased contracted the disease.

A mural, in Bond Street Londonderry, paying tribute to National Health Service workers. The mural was painted by Waterside brothers Dee, Mark and Peter Logan. DER1920GS - 013A mural, in Bond Street Londonderry, paying tribute to National Health Service workers. The mural was painted by Waterside brothers Dee, Mark and Peter Logan. DER1920GS - 013
A mural, in Bond Street Londonderry, paying tribute to National Health Service workers. The mural was painted by Waterside brothers Dee, Mark and Peter Logan. DER1920GS - 013

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for 76.4% of the 2,905 Covid‑19 related deaths registered between 19th March 2020 and 26th March 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 (10.4% and 6.4% respectively). Conversely, Ards & North Down and Fermanagh & Omagh both have relatively low shares of registered Covid-19 related deaths when compared to the proportion of Northern Ireland deaths registered in those areas (2.3 and 2.5 percentage points respectively lower than their share of all deaths).

Related topics:Covid-19