Coronavirus: No deaths, 257 new infections announced on Wednesday (updated)

No new deaths from Covid-19 were recorded over the past 24 hours, as 257 new infections were detected after 39,578 tests, a positivity rate of 0.65 per cent.

According to the health ministry, 181 people were being treated in hospital, 75 in serious or critical condition.

Since the pandemic started in March 2020, Covid has claimed the lives of 486 people — 313 men and 173 women. The average age is 77.

The total number of recorded cases since March last year has reached 112,278.

Of the 75 patients in serious or critical condition, 37 were intubated, four were in an ICU without intubation, and 34 in high dependency units.

Fourteen patients who have since tested negative are on a ventilator and being treated in an ICU.

The ministry said 86.19 per cent of hospitalised patients are not vaccinated.

Of the 257 infections, 38 concerned close contacts of previously confirmed cases, detected in 245 samples.

Four cases were reported at the two airports after 2,720 passenger tests and 33 cases were reported after 2,230 tests conducted privately.

State hospital labs reported a further seven cases after 247 tests.

Private labs and pharmacies reported 113 infections in 20,627 samples tested with rapid antigen while units that are part of the government mass screening programme detected 62 cases in 13,415 samples.

Turkish Cypriot health authorities announced one Covid death on Wednesday and 173 new cases.

Hospitals are treating 107 people, 16 in ICU.

The north has recorded 51 deaths and 15,496 infections since March last year.