Coronavirus: No deaths, 135 new cases announced on Wednesday (updated)

No new deaths from Covid were announced on Wednesday, as 135 new infections were detected after 44,312 tests, a positivity rate of 0.30 per cent.

The ministry said 148 people were being treated in hospital with 47 in serious or critical condition.

The virus has so far claimed the lives of 348 people while the number of recorded cases since the start of the pandemic last year has reached 71,533.

To date, 231 men and 117 have died from Covid-19, with the average age being 77.5.

Of the 47 people in serious or critical condition, 29 were intubated, four were being treated in an ICU without intubation, and 14 in high dependency units.

The ministry said 22 new cases were detected among 441 samples collected from the close contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Two cases were among 2,047 samples collected from passengers at the two airports, and 37 among 1,993 tested by private labs.

State hospital labs reported eight cases in 289 tests. An additional seven were detected in 1,021 samples tested with rapid antigen tests at private labs and pharmacies.

Fifty-nine cases were among 38,276 samples tested as part of the state’s mass screening programme.

Thirteen cases were detected after 11,625 tests in Nicosia, a positivity rate of 0.11 per cent; 22 were found in Limassol after 8,347 tests, 0.26 per cent; eight were reported in Larnaca after 4,552 tests, 0.18 per cent; three in Paphos after 3,491 tests, 0.09 per cent, and 13 in Famagusta after 2,837 tests, 0.46 per cent.