NI coronavirus death toll rises to 779 with NISRA reporting 19 new Covid-19 related deaths

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has published its latest statistical bulletin.

By last Friday, it had recorded 779 deaths in total. NISRA said that 19 deaths occurred in the week ending 5 June.

Of this total, 395 (50.7%) took place in hospital, 334 (42.9%) in care homes, eight (1.0%) in hospices and 42 (5.4%) at residential addresses or other locations. The 342 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 78 separate establishments.

The Department of Health, which releases daily figures, had recorded 537 deaths in total - more than 200 fewer - by the same date. These are mostly hospital deaths.

NISRA records all fatalities where Covid-19 is mentioned on a death certificate.

Its figures also show that care home residents have accounted for more than half (51.9%) of Covid-linked deaths in Northern Ireland.

Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents in hospital shows that of the 404 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 in the year to date to June 5, 82.7% (334) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 70 occurring in hospital.

On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 51.9% of all Covid-19 related deaths.