The total number of deaths in Fermanagh and Omagh related to Covid-19 up until January 15 has risen to 72 according to NISRA, who recorded 20 more deaths in their weekly update in the Council area.

Latest figures published today (Friday) by NISRA show that 156 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the week January 9-15 2021, the highest weekly number since the pandemic began.

The total number of Covid-19 related deaths that occurred up to January 15, 2021 has now reached 2,186. Two days, January 7 and 11 2021, saw the joint highest number of Covid-19 related deaths occurring in any one day since the start of the pandemic (28).

Of the 2,186 Covid-19 related deaths, 1,367 (62.5 per cent) took place in hospital, 656 (30 per cent) in care homes, 13 (0.6 per cent) in hospices and 150 (6.9 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations. The 669 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 163 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to January 15, 2021 was 1,583. 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 858 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 occurred between March 18, 2020 and January 15, 2021, 76.5 per cent (656) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 202 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 39.2 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. 

READ MORE: Coronavirus in Fermanagh and Omagh: One further death reported

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 January 15, 2021 (week 2, 2021) was 443, 125 less than week 1, and 44 more than the 5-year average (2016-2020) of 399.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 153 (34.5 per cent) of the 443 deaths registered in week 2 2021. This is the highest weekly number of Covid-19 related death registrations since the start of the pandemic and means that the total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered to January 15, 2021 has now exceeded 2,000 (2,129).

As the number of deaths related to the virus and hospitals are still under immense pressure it was announced that the lockdown in Northern Ireland will be extended until March 5.

The proposal brought forward by Health Minister, Robin Swann, was backed by the Executive and will be reviewed on February 18.

However, Ministers were also advised that lockdown restrictions may have to stay in place until Easter.