27 people have died from COVID-19 in Derry and Strabane: 6 per cent of all 2020 deaths

Twenty-seven people had died from COVID-19 in Derry and Strabane by the end of last week, according to new data released by the Northern Ireland Research and Statistics Agency (NISRA) on Friday.
By Kevin Mullan
Published 22nd May 2020, 10:04 BST
Updated 22nd May 2020, 10:06 BST
Latest data on COVID-19.Latest data on COVID-19.
Latest data on COVID-19.

According to NISRA 457 people in total have died in Derry and Strabane from all causes in 2020 so far. Six per cent of all deaths in the district have thus been directly related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Derry and Strabane had the second fewest number of coronavirus deaths in the north in the calendar year up until May 15 while Fermanagh and Omagh had the fewest number at 16.

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The new data show that across the north COVID-19 has been mentioned on the death certificates of 664 people who have died this year.

"Of the 664 total deaths involving COVID-19 occurring up to May 15, 322 (48.5%) occurred in hospital, 303 (45.6%) occurred in care homes, six (0.9%) occurred in hospices and 33 (5.0%) occurred at residential addresses or another location.

"The 309 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 76 separate establishments. In the week ending May 15, 32 (52.5%) of the 61 COVID-19 related deaths were in care homes, up from 47.5% in the week ending May 8," the latest NISRA bulletin states.

The new information confirms that the number of deaths from COVID-19 has been falling steadily.

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It also confirms that older people are disproportionately affected by the illness but that men and women accounted for roughly the same number of deaths.

"Seventy-four deaths mentioning COVID-19 on the death certificate were registered in week 19, accounting for 18.7% of all deaths in that week and bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths registered in calendar year 2020 to 652.

"This is the third consecutive weekly fall in the number of registered COVID-19 related deaths.

"In the calendar year to May 15, males and females accounted for similar proportions of all deaths registered (males: 49.0%, females: 51.0%) and COVID-19 related deaths registered (males: 49.4%; female 50.6%).

"In the calendar year to May 15, the 75 years and over age-group accounted for two-thirds (66.9%) of all deaths and almost four-fifths (79.3%) of COVID-19 related deaths," it states.

Related topics:Covid-19DerryStrabane