There have been 27 deaths involving Covid-19 in the last week from October 10-16 according to the Northern ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), bringing the total figure to 942.

One of those deaths was recorded in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area which bring the total figure to 18, although it is still the least affected area in Northern Ireland.

Over half of these death (519) have took place in hospital with 357 in care homes, eight in hospices and 58 at residential addresses or other locations.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to October 16 was 610. 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.

Impartial Reporter: Covid-19 deaths registered by Local Government District (LGC)Covid-19 deaths registered by Local Government District (LGC)

Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents in hospital, shows that of the 441 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 in the year to date to October 16 2020, 81 per cent (357) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 84 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 46.8 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 October 16 2020 (week 41) was 278, 70 less than in week 40 and 17 less than the 5-year average of 295. The total in week 41 was impacted by the Registration system being unavailable on Friday, October 16 due to a platform upgrade. Over the last 29 weeks in total, 1,288 ‘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 October 16 totalling 1,029.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 17 (6.1 per cent) of the 278 deaths registered in week 41. This is six more than last week (week 40) and brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year up to October 16 to 930.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (64.7 per cent) of all deaths and 79 per cent of Covid‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to October 16.