Excess deaths as a result of coronavirus in Ireland 'substantially less' than those reported

Covid-19 caused a 13% increase in deaths in Ireland between March and June but may be less than the original numbers reported.

A Health Information and Quality report found that there were 1,200 more deaths during that period, less than the 1,709 people recorded as having died from coronavirus here.

The analysis is from 11 March 2020 to 16 June 2020 relative to the expected number of deaths, using data from the death notices website RIP.ie.

Tony Holohan speaking on foreign travel

HIQA's Chief Scientist, Dr Conor Teljeur, said: "Based on an analysis of the death notices reported on RIP.ie since 2010, there is clear evidence of excess deaths occurring since the first reported death due to Covid-19 in Ireland.

"There were about 1,100 to 1,200 more deaths than we would expect based on historical patterns; a 13% increase between 11 March to 16 June. However, the number of excess deaths is substantially less than the reported 1,709 Covid-19-related deaths over the same period."

This overestimate could be due to people who died because of other factors but also happened to contract the coronavirus before they passed.