Photo/Illutration The Central Joint Office building in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward where the office of the National Police Agency is located (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Police reported that in March a total of 239 people in 37 prefectures who had died at their homes or other locations were confirmed to have contracted the novel coronavirus, a National Police Agency source said on April 11. 

That marked the third-highest number of deaths on record, following 564 in February and 250 in August 2021, when the number of at-home COVID-19 patients was spiking amid the fifth wave of infections. 

Police visit the locations where deaths occur to determine if there are any suspicious circumstances, unless they are in hospitals or their deaths are attributable to an illness after being treated by doctors. 

Of the 239 deaths, people in their 80s accounted for the largest age group with 83. They were followed by 58 people in their 70s, 33 in their 90s and 32 in their 60s. The NPA source said the 239 deceased also included two youngsters aged between 10 and 19 and two children aged 9 or younger.

Tokyo accounted for 41 deaths, leading all prefectures, followed by 36 in Osaka Prefecture, 25 in Chiba and Kanagawa, respectively, and 20 in Saitama.

Among the 239 people who had contracted the novel coronavirus before their deaths, 85 died of causes directly attributed to COVID-19.

Eleven of the deceased died of pneumonia and 33 of external causes such as injuries.

Some causes of death were recorded as “unknown” or “others.”

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