Latest figures published today by NISRA show that six deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the week April 17-23, 2021.

The total number of Covid-19 related deaths that occurred up to April 23 has now reached 2,953. Of the 2,953 Covid-19 related deaths, 1,949 took place in hospital, 772 in care homes, 14 in hospices and 216 at residential addresses or other locations.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to April 23 was 2,141. 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 1,008 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 which occurred between March 18, 2020 and April 23, 2021, 772 occurred in a care home, with the remaining 236 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 34.1% 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 April 23 (week 16, 2021) was 305, 16 more than in week 15 but seven less than the 5-year average (2016-2020) of 312.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of seven (2.3%) of the 305 deaths registered in week 16, a decrease of nine from the previous week and the lowest weekly total since early October 2020. The total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered to 23rd April 2021 has now reached 2,949.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for 76.1 per cent of the 2,949 Covid‑19 related deaths registered between March 29, 2020 and April 23, 2021.

Over the period of the pandemic, Fermanagh & Omagh has recorded the lowest number of registered Covid-19 related deaths with 103.