Recording of Covid-19 related deaths (FOI)

Request

Is the States of Jersey and Public Health Jersey counting deaths with COVID 19 as a COVID 19 death on the death certificate even if that person had underlying conditions that led them to be hospitalised and / or were already terminally ill?

Response

A press release was issued on 14 April 2020 setting out matters relating to the recording of deaths from Covid-19.

Recording of deaths from COVID-19

As set out in the press release the Government of Jersey “reports the deaths of people infected with Coronavirus to include all deaths where COVID-19, or suspected COVID-19, is mentioned on the death certificate. This includes all cases where the virus is recorded, whether as the direct cause or in combination with other health conditions”.

Therefore, we are reporting COVID-19 registered deaths (either confirmed or probable) regardless of what else is on the death certificate. This is set out in the reporting data available on-line:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tests and cases in Jersey 

Article applied

Article 23: Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for the information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information