NI Covid-19 death-toll up to 915 after NISRA identify seven additional deaths

The latest statistics mean the NISRA Covid-19 death-toll now stands at 915.

Of this total, 495 (54.1%) took place in hospital, 356 (38.9%) in care homes, eight (0.9%) in hospices and 56 (6.1%) at residential addresses or other locations.

The 364 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 85 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to 9th October was 587.

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 437 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 in the year to date to 9th October 2020, 81.5% (356) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 81 occurring in hospital.

On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 47.8% 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 9th October 2020 (week 40) was 348, 20 more than in week 39 and 48 more than the 5-year average of 300. Over the last 28 weeks in total, 1,305 ‘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 9th October totalling 1,046.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of eleven (3.2%) of the 348 deaths registered in week 40. This is nine more than last week (week 39) and brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year up to 9th October to 913.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (64.6%) of all deaths and 79.0% of Covid‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to 9th October.

For Covid-19 related deaths, those with an address in Belfast Local Government District (LGD) accounted for 258 (28.3%) of the 913 deaths registered in the calendar year to 9th October.