The total number of deaths related to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, up to May 15, is almost 200 more that what was registered by the Department of Health to the same date, and takes the number of deaths in Northern Ireland related to Covid-19 to almost 700 as of today, Friday May 22.

Data released this morning by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency showed that there has been a total of 664 covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland up to May 15. The comparative figure from the Department, who only register deaths from individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19, was 472.

Since then the Department have confirmed a further 29 deaths. The number of deaths related to Covid-19 in the Fermanagh and Omagh District shows no change, and remains at 16 in total up to May 15.

Over the last seven weeks, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic there has been, according to NISRA, a total of 867 “excess deaths” registered in Northern Ireland. These are deaths above the average for the corresponding period in previous years. 203 of these deaths are not Covid-19 related.

In terms of where deaths are taking place, NISRA’s data show that up until the period ending 15th May, 322 (48.5 per cent) took place in hospital, 303 (45.6 per cent) in care homes, six (0.9 per cent) in hospices and 33 (5 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations.

The 309 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 76 separate establishments. 

Of the 61 deaths involving Covid-19 in the last week, from May 9 to 15, 27 occurred in hospital, 32 in care homes, one in a hospice and one at a residential address. The number of deaths in care homes has fallen for the second week in a row from 38 to 32. The previous week the number of deaths in care homes was 76.