Coronavirus: Two deaths, 109 new cases recorded on Tuesday (updated)

The health ministry announced two deaths from Covid-19 on Tuesday and 109 new infections from 10,992 tests, a positivity rate of just under one per cent.

The number of deaths since the start of the pandemic in March has risen to 190 while the number of cases now stands at 30,252.

The deaths concern a 69-year-old man and a 93-year-old woman, both with underlying health issues.

Of the 190 fatalities attributed to Covid-19 so far 128 were men. The average age of the deceased was 80.

The ministry said 160 people were being treated in state hospitals for Covid, including 53 in serious or critical condition.

Thirty-two patients were intubated while three were being treated in ICUs without intubation. Eighteen were in high dependency units.

From 10,992 tests, authorities detected 109 positive cases, a positivity rate of 0.99 per cent.

Seventy-two cases were detected in 9,267 samples tested through rapid antigen tests, while 22 other infections among 194 samples were contacts of previously confirmed cases.

One case concerned a traveller, found among 272 samples, and eight were detected in 731 samples tested by private laboratories.

State hospital labs found an additional five cases in 262 samples. One case was among 266 samples taken from people referred for testing by GPs.