Northern Ireland records 14 Covid-related deaths last week

In the most recent weekly report, fourteen fatalities were associated with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.

The deaths in the week closing May 20 take the total number of coronavirus-related deaths documented by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) to 4,618.

The statistic is derived from various datasets and is always greater than the Department of Health's sum because it offers a more comprehensive picture of Covid-19's impact.

The department's figures are mainly based on hospital mortalities and only include individuals whose tests for the virus came back positive.

Nisra collects data from death certificates in which Covid-19 is listed as a possible cause by a medical expert, irrespective of where the death happened or whether the patient had a positive test.

The statistics agency publishes Covid information with a one-week lag.

The total Covid deaths reported by Nisra include 3,212 fatalities in hospitals, 425 at residential addresses, hospices, or other areas, and 981 in nursing homes.

According to Nisra, Covid-19 was responsible for the deaths of 1,284 nursing home residents as of May 20, accounting for 27.8 percent of all coronavirus-linked deaths.

Covid-19 was also listed on the death certificates of 15 of the 312 people who died in the week ending May 20.

Because fatalities can take several days to register, some of the deaths reported in the week closing May 20 may have occurred prior to that week.

Between March 19, 2020, and May 20, 2022, those within the age bracket of 75 and above accounted for 73.8 percent of Covid-linked mortalities.