Latest figures published today by NISRA show that 30 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the week March 6-12, 2021.

The total number of Covid-19 related deaths that occurred up to March 12, 2021 has now reached 2,877. Of the 2,877 Covid-19 related deaths, 1,891 (65.7 per cent) took place in hospital, 764 (26.6 per cent) in care homes, 14 (0.5 per cent) in hospices and 208 (7.2 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to March 12, 2021 was 2,098. 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 1,000 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 which occurred between March 18, 2020 and March 12, 2021, 76.4 per cent (764) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 236 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 34.8 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 March 12, 2021 (week 10, 2021) was 339, 20 more than in week 9, and one more than the 5-year average (2016-2020) of 338.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 32 (9.4 per cent) of the 339 deaths registered in week 10, a fall from the previous week’s 33 Covid-19 related deaths and the seventh 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 March, 12 2021 has now reached 2,871.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for 76.6 per cent of the 2,871 Covid‑19 related deaths registered between March 19, 2020 and March 12, 2021.

Over the period of the pandemic, Fermanagh & Omagh has had a relatively low share of registered Covid-19 related deaths when compared to the proportion of Northern Ireland deaths registered in those areas with 2.5 percentage points respectively lower than their share of all deaths.

NOTE: Due to Registrations Offices being closed on March 17 for the St Patrick’s Day public holiday, occurrences reflect registrations up to March 16.