The latest statistics from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) show that there was only one Covid-19 related death in Northern Ireland in the last week, from July 25 to 31, bringing the total number of deaths to 855.

This is six fewer than last week which saw a rise in the weekly number of deaths for the first time since mid-June.

Of this total, 449 (52.5 per cent) took place in hospital, 349 (40.8 per cent) in care homes, eight (0.9 per cent) in hospices and 49 (5.7 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations. The 357 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 81 separate establishments.

For Covid-19 related deaths, those with an address in Fermanagh and Omagh Local Government District (LGD) accounted for 17 of the 855 deaths registered in the calendar year to July 31.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to July 31 was 556. 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 429 deaths of care home residents involving COVID-19 in the year to date to July 31 81.4 per cent (349) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 80 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 50.2 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 July 31 (week 30) was 273, 34 less than in week 29 and nine less than the 5-year average of 282. Over the last 18 weeks in total, 1,031 ‘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 July 31 totalling 772.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (65.2 per cent) of all deaths and 80.1 per cent of COVID‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to July 31.