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'Presumptive deaths' included in latest stats

'Presumptive deaths' included in latest stats

Thursday 09 April 2020

'Presumptive deaths' included in latest stats

Thursday 09 April 2020


Guernsey's Director of Public Health is now considering 'presumptive deaths' as she gives advice on how the Bailiwick deals with the corona virus pandemic, as well as the number of confirmed covid-19 patients the islands have.

The latest statistics, released 16:00 Wednesday 8 April, included a fifth death linked with corona virus, and two presumptive deaths.

While that means Dr Nicola Brink is now linking seven recent deaths in the islands with the pandemic, it's not proven that two of those people did die because they had caught the highly contagious virus. They are not believed to have been tested: 

"No laboratory testing or negative laboratory testing, but cause of death thought to be covid-19 related," said the latest information on the States website. 

No details have yet been given about the latest fatality or the presumptive deaths, but Dr Brink will be speaking at a press briefing at 13:00 today, which will be streamed by the States of Guernsey on Facebook. 

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Pictured: The statistics released by the States of Guernsey at 16:30, Wednesday 8 April. 

Dr Brink has already urged people against comparing local statistics with those of other jurisdictions, including the UK. 

Where the UK is listing positive cases and deaths, based on hospital numbers, Guernsey is also including those people cared for in the community, and those who pass away at home or in another facility. 

Speaking on Tuesday, Dr Brink said that only one of the four deaths linked with covid-19 at the time would have been recognised as such in the UK, as only one patient had passed away in hospital.

shutterstock carer nurse old patient pensioner old woman elderly

Pictured: Four of the people who have died, linked with corona virus, have been over 80-years old. At least two were living in care homes in Guernsey which have seen clusters of cases of covid-19. No information has yet been given on the fifth covid-19 death, or the two presumptive deaths. 

Of the 181 people confirmed to have tested positive for corona virus by 16:30 on Wednesday 8 April, 38 people have now recovered from the potentially fatal virus.

Recovery is only defined by Public Health once a patient receives a negative nose/throat swab, with no virus detectable, 14 days after being originally diagnosed. 

Pictured top: Dr Nicola Brink. 

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