There were five further Covid-related deaths reported by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland today (Thursday).
Today’s stats – according to the official dashboard – take in the last 24 hours with four of the five passing away inside that period.
The overall total number of deaths recorded by the Department now stands at 2,048.
Of those deaths, the ABC Borough accounts for 274 – two up on Wednesday – Newry, Mourne and Down District the same at 157; and Mid-Ulster, up two, with 191.
There were a further 281 positive cases reported in the last 24 hours, with 42 in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon – the second highest in NI. There was a further 19 in Newry, Mourne and Down and 27 in Mid-Ulster.
A total of 1,963 individuals were tested.
There are 341 – 15 less than yesterday – people now in hospital as a result of the virus, 44 of whom are in intensive care units.
There are currently 31 ICU beds available in Northern Ireland.
A total of 109 – 12 less than yesterday – Covid patients are currently in hospitals in the Southern Trust area – with 54 in Craigavon; 17 in Daisy Hill, 33 in Lurgan, five in St Luke’s, Armagh and none in South Tyrone.
Meanwhile, The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has today published an updated analysis of Covid-19 related deaths that occurred (based on the date of death) in Northern Ireland between March 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021.
The statistics show that Covid-19 related deaths (2,546) accounted for 15.8% of all deaths in Northern Ireland over the eleven-month period.
What are the differences between NISRA’s death registration statistics and the daily totals reported via the Department of Health?
– The daily updates provided by the Department of Health (DoH) count the number of deaths reported by Trusts, where the deceased had a positive test for Covid-19 and died within 28 days, whether or not Covid-19 was the cause of death. DoH figures will not capture all deaths that do not meet this definition. These data are important because they are available earlier, and therefore give a quicker indication of what is happening day by day and are broadly comparable with the figures released daily in other parts of the United Kingdom (UK). The DoH reported 1,867 deaths associated with Covid-19 by 31st January 2021 (including revisions up to 22nd February).
– These statistics, like the NISRA weekly, provisional death statistics, are based on death registration information collected by the General Register Office, and count all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate by the doctor who certified the death, whether or not Covid-19 was the primary underlying cause of death. The figures include cases where the doctor noted that there was suspected or probable coronavirus infection involved in the death. As a result totals from this source will usually be higher than the relevant daily figures – because the DoH daily updates only include those who have tested positive for the virus.
