Coronavirus: Five deaths, 182 new cases recorded on Wednesday (updated)

The health ministry announced five deaths and 182 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday.

The deceased are an 81-year-old woman and a 75-year-old man who passed away at Nicosia and Limassol hospital respectively on Tuesday, and three women aged 95, 78, and 72, who passed away on Wednesday in Limassol, Paphos and Famagusta respectively.

The death toll now stands at 523, of whom 337 were men and 186 women.

There are 131 people being treated for Covid in hospitals, 34 of whom are in serious condition. Of the 34 patients, 16 are intubated, three are in ICU without a ventilator and 15 in the High Dependency Unit.

80.92 per cent of patients currently in hospital have not been vaccinated against coronavirus.

A total of 48,588 PCR and rapid antigen tests were carried out, giving a positivity rate of 0.37 per cent.

Of the 48,588 tests, 5,454 were PCR and 43,134 rapid tests.

The majority, 79 of the 182 cases came from 22,373 rapid tests performed at private labs and pharmacies, with 34 more coming from rapid testing performed at health ministry testing sites.

One case was detected out of 195 samples taken through GP referrals, while 296 tests performed at hospital labs turned up seven cases.

Twenty-five positives came from 206 samples taken from contacts of already confirmed cases, while 31 more came from 2,139 samples taken through private initiative.

In addition, 2,618 samples were taken at airports with five positives.

The total number of positives to date is 117,379.

In the north, 144 new cases were detected from 13,562 tests.

According to the ‘health ministry,’ six came from abroad, 33 came from contacts of already confirmed cases, and 105 local infections.

Forty-four cases were detected in Nicosia, 20 in Kyrenia, 24 in Famagusta, two in Morphou, four in Lefka and 11 in Trikomo.

To date, a total of 17,538 cases and 69 deaths have been reported in the north.