COVID-19: further rise in number of covid-linked deaths in NI
Last updated 30th Oct 2020
Northern Ireland has seen a rise in the number of covid-related deaths for the second week running.
According to latest figures there were 37 covid-linked fatalities between October 17 and 23 - up 10 in the total from the previous week.
That brings the overall death tally to 979.
The stats are from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) which reports with a week lag.
The comparative total number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health stood at 643 on October 23.
The Nisra data gives a fuller picture of Covid-19 fatalities than the figures released by the department.
The department's statistics focus primarily on hospital deaths and only includes people who have tested positive for the virus.
Nisra obtains its data from death certificates in which Covid-19 is recorded as a factor by a medical professional, regardless of where the death took place.
The person may or may not have tested positive for the virus.
Of the 979 deaths recorded by Nisra by October 23, 547 (55.9%) occurred in hospital, 363 (37.1%) in care homes, eight (0.8%) in hospices and 61 (6.2%) at residential addresses or other locations.
The 371 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 88 separate establishments.
Nisra also analyses the total number of care home residents who have died, whether in their home or in hospital, having been transferred for treatment.
Up to October 23, the deaths of 451 care home residents were linked to Covid-19, 88 of which occurred in hospital.
Care home residents make up about 46.1% of all deaths linked to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 42 (10.7%) of the 391 deaths registered in week 42.
This is 25 more than the previous week and brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year up to October 23 to 972.