Latest figures published today by NISRA show that four deaths involving COVID-19 occurred in the last week, up to 4th September, bringing the total to 877.

Of this total, 466 (53.1 per cent) took place in hospital, 351 (40 per cent) in care homes, eight (0.9 per cent) in hospices and 52 (5.9 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations. The 359 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 81 separate establishments.

For COVID-19 related deaths, Fermanagh and Omagh Local Government District (LGD) has the lowest registered deaths in Northern Ireland up to September 4 with 17.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to September 4 was 564. 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 432 deaths of care home residents involving COVID-19 in the year to date to September 4 2020, 81.3 per cent (351) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 81 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 49.3 per cent of all COVID-19 related deaths. 

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 September 4 2020 (week 35) was 234, 69 less than in week 34 and 21 less than the 5-year average of 255. Over the last 23 weeks in total, 1,121 ‘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 4th September totalling 862.

COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of three (1.3 per cent) of the 234 deaths registered in week 35.  This is one less than last week (week 34) and brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year up to September 4 to 876.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (64.8 per cent) of all deaths and 79.6 per cent of COVID‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to September 4.