One-hundred-and-seventy-eight new positive cases of coronavirus were announced on Wednesday. There were no deaths.

The positive cases were reported out of 9,884 PCR and rapid tests, a positivity rate of 1.80 per cent.

The health ministry said 192 people were in hospital, 60 of them in serious condition while 29 patients are intubated.

Of the 9,884 tests, 2,050 were PCR tests that yielded 58 cases detected through contact tracing, 24 cases among people who got tested privately, and 18 cases among samples processed in state hospitals’ labs. Another four cases concern people who were referred for testing by family physicians or tests among special groups.

A total of 74 positive cases were detected among 7,834 antigen rapid tests. In the Limassol district 34 cases were detected, a positivity rate of 2.38 per cent, 26 in Nicosia, positivity rate 1.25 per cent, 10 cases in Larnaca a positive rate of 1.47 per cent. Four cases were found in the Paphos district, a positivity rate of 1.75 per cent.

This brings the total number of cases so far to 29,472.

The number of deaths from Covid-19 remains at 176; 117 men and 59 women with average age 80 years.