NISRA | Update on COVID-19 related deaths in NI for week ending 11 September

Latest figures published today by NISRA show that eight deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the last week, from 5th to 11th September. The total Covid-19 related deaths figure stands at 887.

Of this total, 473 (53.3%) took place in hospital, 352 (39.7%) in care homes, eight (0.9%) in hospices and 54 (6.1%) at residential addresses or other locations. The 360 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 81 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to 11th September was 570. 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 433 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 in the year to date to 11th September 2020, 81.3% (352) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 81 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 48.8% 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 11th September 2020 (week 36) was 296, 62 less than in week 35 and 20 more than the 5-year average of 276. Over the last 24 weeks in total, 1,141 ‘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 11th September totalling 882.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of seven (2.4%) of the 296 deaths registered in week 36. This is four more than last week (week 35) and brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year up to 11th September to 883.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (64.9%) of all deaths and 79.3% of Covid‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to 11th September.

For Covid-19 related deaths, those with an address in Belfast Local Government District (LGD) accounted for 251 (28.4%) of the 883 deaths registered in the calendar year to 11th September.

Statistics on weekly deaths registered in Northern Ireland can be found at: https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/weekly-deaths