Covid numbers

Summary

The requester asked for monthly Covid-19 mortality and positive test figures for 2020-2021, including symptom status. The Cabinet Office stated it does not hold the test data and referred the requester to Manx Care, while providing a link to existing online data for mortality figures.

Key Facts

• The Cabinet Office does not hold monthly positive test figures for 2020-2021.
• Mortality data is already available online via a previous FOI response (ref 2099101).
• The requester was advised to contact Manx Care for testing statistics.
• The request was formally closed on 13 January 2022.
• The response cited Section 20 of the Act regarding information already reasonably accessible.

Data Disclosed

• 2020-2021
• 15 December 2021
• 13 January 2022
• 2147902
• 2099101

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Act (Information already reasonably accessible)

Original Request

1. Could you provide the monthly mortality figures for those who died from/with Covid 2020-2021? I understand recent weeks are shown on the government website, however I cannot find older data which is why I am doing this request- or please provide a link to this data online. 2. Could you also provide the monthly positive tests per month for 2020-2021. The older information is equally not available online, or please provide the link to find it. 3. Please specify alongside figures for Q2 above, whether the positive case is asymptomatic or symptomatic. Thank you

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244 Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 2147902 13 January 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 15 December 2021 and which states:

"1. Could you provide the monthly mortality figures for those who died from/with Covid 2020-2021? I understand recent weeks are shown on the government website, however I cannot find older data which is why I am doing this request- or please provide a link to this data online. 2. Could you also provide the monthly positive tests per month for 2020- 2021. The older information is equally not available online, or please provide the link to find it. 3. Please specify alongside figures for Q2 above, whether the positive case is asymptomatic or symptomatic. Thank you"

Our response to your request is as follows: "1. Could you provide the monthly mortality figures for those who died from/with Covid 2020-2021? I understand recent weeks are shown on the government website, however I cannot find older data which is why I am doing this request- or please provide a link to this data online. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. The information that you have requested is available online at: https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/search as part of a response to a previous Freedom of Information request 2099101, Updated Death Certificate Data. The published response includes a spreadsheet showing cause of death from or with Covid. 2. Could you also provide the monthly positive tests per month for 2020- 2021. The older information is equally not available online, or please provide the link to find it.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. However, you may wish to contact Manx Care who may be able to help you: Manx Care, Head Office, Noble’s Hospital Estate, Strang, Braddan, Isle of Man, IM4 4RJ or submit a freedom of information request to Manx Care directly https://iomportal.icasework.com/resource?id=741209&db=iom 3. Please specify alongside figures for Q2 above, whether the positive case is asymptomatic or symptomatic. Thank you" The information requested is not held by the Cabinet Office. You may wish to contact Manx Care at the contact details provided above. Please quote the reference number 2147902 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date. Yours sincerely