Covid-19 death statistics (FOI)

Request

A

Please can you provide the list of 'Covid deaths as recorded on the deaths certificates'. I know this has been previously asked but document hasn't been updated. Previous request was from another member of the public was on the 13 November.

B

If an individual has sadly passed away but has tested positive for Covid, is a PM still carried out?

Response

A

The PDF table below lists the causes of death as recorded on the death certificate for ‘Covid deaths’ registered in Jersey up until 4 February 2021, which covers all ‘Covid deaths’ registered to date.

Covid-19 deaths

Causes of death are presented as a narrative of the person’s state of health at the point of their death so as to provide comprehensive details of the conditions that lead to their death as follows (with examples):

1a The disease or condition that lead to the death (eg Respiratory Failure)

1b Antecedent causes (eg Pneumonia)

1c Morbid conditions giving rise to the above causes (eg COVID-19)

2. Other significant conditions contributing to the death but not related to the condition or disease causing it.

B

No, a post-mortem is not routinely carried out, only if there is some other reason to do so. Post-mortem examinations in Jersey are authorised by the Viscount (usually the Deputy Viscount) as coroner, in accordance with the Inquests and Post-mortem Examinations (Jersey) Law 1995 and on case by case basis.  

In all cases, a post-mortem examination of the body of a deceased person is only carried out if there is a good reason to do so and usually because the cause of that person’s death is unknown or uncertain. A death due to coronavirus infection is a natural cause and therefore deaths due to coronavirus are not routinely reported to the Viscount / Deputy Viscount as coroner.

A positive Covid-19 test in life, however, does not of itself prevent a post-mortem examination of the deceased, if needs be, and in such cases there may be other good reasons for a post-mortem examination to be made.