Latest figures published today by NISRA show that 68 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the last week from November 21-27, and the total Covid-19 related deaths figure has now reached 1,410.

None of these deaths were in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area which remains the least affected area in Northern Ireland with 36 deaths.

Of this total, 832 (59 per cent) deaths took place in hospital, 474 (33.6 per cent) in care homes, nine (0.6 per cent) in hospices and 95 (6.7 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations. The 483 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 116 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to November 27 was 981. 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 594 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 in the year to date to November 27 2020, 79.8 per cent (474) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 120 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 42.1 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 November 27 2020 (week 47) was 348, 48 less than in week 46 and 37 more than the 5-year average of 311. Over the last 35 weeks in total, 1,790 ‘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 November 27 totalling 1,531.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 81 (23.3 per cent) of the 348 deaths registered in week 47. This is first fall in registered Covid-19 related deaths since early October. The total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered in the calendar year up to November 27 has reached 1,382.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (65.2 per cent) of all deaths and 77.6 per cent of Covid‑19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to November 27.