The Deputy may wish to note that for surveillance purposes, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre's (HPSC) definition of COVID-19 deaths includes deaths in all possible, probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases and all should be notified, unless there is a clear alternative cause of death that cannot be related to COVID-19 infection (e.g. trauma). There should be no period of complete recovery from COVID-19 between the illness and death. All COVID-19 deaths are notified regardless of the setting, including home, community and hospital settings. The HPSC reports all deaths among these COVID-19 cases as outlined above and does not just confine the death reporting to those who die within 28 days of a positive test. This is in line with how COVID-19 cases are reported by the majority of European countries and follows WHO guidance for COVID-19 death surveillance.
Confirmed and suspected or possible Covid-19 related deaths are reportable to the relevant District Coroner in every case. The Coroner determines if a post mortem is required to establish the cause of death. In most cases where the diagnosis of Covid-19 has been established, a post mortem examination will not be required unless other circumstances are present and the law mandates an autopsy to be directed by the Coroner. Further information and guidance in relation to the Coroners Service and deaths due to Covid-19 infection is available at the following link - hse.drsteevenslibrary.ie/ld.php?content_id=32848220.
Statistics for the specific number of Covid-19 post-mortems carried out is an operational issue, and is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.