New figures show the number of coronavirus-linked deaths in Northern Ireland stands at almost 600. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) published its weekly bulletin today.
It says that in the week to last Friday, 8 May, 599 Covid-19 related deaths were recorded. The official Department of Health figure on the same day was 432, nearly 40% lower than the NISRA total.
The two sets of figures are compiled in different ways. Daily figures produced by the department include deaths that occurred within 28 days of the deceased testing positive for Covid-19.
The weekly statistics published by NISRA cover all fatalities where coronavirus was recorded on a death certificate. In many of those cases the deceased may or may not