Northern Ireland

Covid-19 death toll lowest since October

The 10 fatalities in the week ending on April 2 is the lowest total since the week ending October 9
The 10 fatalities in the week ending on April 2 is the lowest total since the week ending October 9 The 10 fatalities in the week ending on April 2 is the lowest total since the week ending October 9

THE weekly Covid-19 death toll has hit the lowest figure since early October.

The 10 fatalities in the week ending on April 2 is the lowest total since the week ending October 9.

It brings the total recorded by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) to 2,919.

The data provides a broader picture of the impact of Covid-19 than the death toll reported by the Department of Health.

Its statistics focus primarily on hospital deaths and only include people who have tested positive for the virus.

Nisra obtains its data from death certificates on which Covid-19 is recorded as a factor by a medical professional, regardless of where the death took place or whether the patient tested positive.

The statistics agency reports its Covid-19 data with a week lag.

The department's death toll was 2,116 on April 2.

Of the 2,919 Covid-19 related deaths recorded by Nisra, 1,920 (65.8 per cent) took place in hospital, 770 (26.4 per cent) in care homes, 14 (0.5 per cent) in hospices and 215 (7.4 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations.

Nisra reported that up to April 2, the deaths of 1,006 care home residents were linked to Covid-19.

The figure included 770 in care homes and 236 residents who died in hospital having been moved there for treatment.

Care home residents make up about 35 per cent of deaths linked to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, according to Nisra.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 12 of the 288 deaths registered in the week ending April 2, a decrease of seven from the previous week.

Meanwhile, another two people who had previously tested positive have died, the department said on Friday.

A further 113 new cases of the virus were also notified by the department yesterday.

In the Republic, there were 34 Covid-related deaths reported by the Department of Health on Friday, as well as 473 new cases.

The department said 19 of the deaths occurred in February.

It added that there were 212 people being treated in hospitals, with 53 of these receiving intensive care.

The number of confirmed cases last week in the Republic fell by as much as 9 per cent, while community referrals for Covid-19 testing fell by 15 per cent last week.

Hospital admissions are now down to a daily average of 13 - almost half the level throughout the previous six weeks.