Latest figures published today by NISRA show that there were five further Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland from February 20-26. The total number of Covid deaths in the area now stands at 100.

44 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the week February 20-26,2021 across Northern Ireland. The total number of Covid-19 related deaths that occurred up to 26th February 2021 has now reached 2,816.

Of the 2,816 Covid-19 related deaths, 1,837 (65.2 per cent) took place in hospital, 760 (27 per cent) in care homes, 14 (0.5 per cent) in hospices and 205 (7.3 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations. The 774 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 177 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to February 26, 2021 was 2,054. 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 and therefore include both confirmed and suspected cases, and where Covid-19 was either a contributor to or the main cause of death.

Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents in hospital, shows that of the 995 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 which occurred between March 18, 2020 and February 26, 2021, 76.4 per cent (760) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 235 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 35.3 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 February 26 2021 (week 8, 2021) was 351, one less than week 7, and two more than the 5-year average (2016-2020) of 349.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 55 (15.7 per cent) of the 351 deaths registered in week 8, 2021, a fall from the previous week’s 78 Covid-19 related deaths and the fifth consecutive fall in the registration based series since the recent peak of 182 Covid-19 related deaths registered in the week ending January 22.  The total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered to February 26, 2021 has now reached 2,806.