Covid-19 death toll in NI now 1594

NISRA records a further 86 Covid-19 related deaths which occurred from November 5 to 11.

Coronavirus update
Author: Chelsie KealeyPublished 18th Dec 2020
Last updated 18th Dec 2020

The Number of Coronavirus related deaths in Northern Ireland has now reached 1,594.

According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) another 86 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the last week from December 5 to 11.

Of this total, 949 (59.5%) deaths took place in hospital, 530 (33.2%) in care homes, nine (0.6%) in hospices and 106 (6.6%) at residential addresses or other locations.

The 539 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 126 separate establishments.

While the departmental death toll has reached 1,154 the statistics agency reports its Covid-19 data with a week lag.

What is the difference between NISRA's figures and the Department of Health's?

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.

However, the Department of Health’s figures are based on patients having previously tested positive for the virus.

The number of Covid Related deaths recorded by the DOH is 1,154 which is 440 less than NISRA’s.

Yesterday (Thursday) the daily dashboard showed a further 12 people died after contracting the virus.

The data showed 656 people tested positive from 3,439 individual tests.

While, 460 hospital inpatients currently have the virus, and 32 of them are in ICU.

There are 21 available ICU beds at present and 86 care-home outbreaks are active.