Poorer areas of the north suffer significantly higher coronavirus rates, DoH study reports

The infection rate in the 10% most deprived areas in NI was 3,052 cases per 100,000 people, almost two-thirds higher than the rate in the 10% least deprived areas of 1,859 cases per 100,000 population.

The most deprived areas also had more than one and a half times the NI average of 1,972 cases per 100,000.

The admission rate (confirmed cases) in the 10% most deprived areas of 275 admissions per 100,000 population was more than double the rate in the 10% least deprived areas of 126 admissions per 100,000.

The death rate in the 10% most deprived areas of 77 deaths per 100,000 people was almost two-fifths higher than the rate in the least deprived areas of 56 deaths per 100,000 population and almost one and a half times the NI average of 53 deaths per 100,000.

The infection rate among females of 2,050 cases per 100,000 population was 8% higher than the rate for males of 1,893 cases. The death rate, however, was one and a half times higher for males at 67 deaths per 100,000 compared to females at 44 deaths per 100,000.

The infection rate in urban areas was over a third higher than the rate seen in rural areas, however the rate was highest in mixed urban/rural areas. The death rate in urban areas of 63 deaths per 100,000 was double the rate seen in rural areas of 32 deaths per 100,000.

While deprivation was found to be an important factor of the likelihood of admissions, age was found to have a greater impact.

The rate for the population aged 75 and over of 890 admissions per 100,000 population was over nine times the under 75 population rate of 97 admissions per 100,000.

The over 75 death rate was highest in the 10% most deprived areas at 717 deaths per 100,000. It was three-tenths higher than the rate in the 10% least deprived areas of 549 deaths per 100,000 and one and a half times the NI average of 477 deaths per 100,000.

Across the north, the infection rate was highest in Derry & Strabane with 3,665 cases per 100,000 population and lowest in Ards & North Down. Derry & Strabane showed the highest infection rates among those aged over 65 years and those aged under 65 years.

The highest admission rate was Belfast with 239 admissions per 100,000, while Derry & Strabane was second highest with 212 per 100,000 population.

The death rate was highest in Belfast with 89 deaths per 100,000. Derry & Strabane were the second lowest with 27 deaths per 100,000.

The positive cases and admission stats are based on known positions as of October 27 while the deaths are based on all deaths registered from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020.

While the analysis showed COVID-19 rates were highest in the 10% most deprived areas of NI, there may be other factors that contributed to the observation such as occupation and population density.