Latest figures published today by NISRA show that nine deaths involving COVID-19 occurred in the last week, from June 20 to 26, bringing the total of COVID-19 related deaths to 826.

For COVID-19 related deaths, those with an address in Fermanagh and Omagh Local Government District (LGD) accounted for 16 of the 824 deaths registered in the calendar year to June 26.

Of this total, 427 (51.7 per cent) took place in hospital, 343 (41.5 per cent) in care homes, eight (1.0 per cent) in hospices and 48 (5.8 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations. The 351 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 79 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to June 26 was 550. 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 417 deaths of care home residents involving COVID-19 in the year to date to June 26 82.3 per cent (343) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 74 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 50.5 per cent 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 June 26 (week 25) was 295, five more than in week 24 and 25 more than the five-year average of 270. Over the last 13 weeks in total, 1,001 ‘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 June 26 totalling 742.

COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate for 12 (4.1 per cent) of the 295 deaths registered in week 25.  This is five fewer than last week (week 24) and brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year 2020 to 824.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (66.1 per cent) of all deaths and 80.0 per cent of COVID‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to June 26.