Coronavirus: One death, 706 new infections (Updated)

The health ministry on Monday announced one Covid-19 death and 706 new infections, following 100,991 tests – a positivity rate of 0.7 per cent.

The death was that of an 88-year-old man who passed away at Famagusta general hospital.

As of Monday evening, there are 116 people receiving hospital treatment for the virus, of whom 41 are in serious condition. Of the 41, there are 17 intubations, two receiving treatment in ICUs – but not on ventilators – and 22 in the high dependency ward.

The ministry emphasised that 75 per cent of the 116 Covid-19 patients in hospital are unvaccinated.

The total number of deaths attributed to Covid-19 now stands at 602 of whom 387 are men (64.3 per cent) and the average age of those who died is 75.7.

As for the 706 infections, they were detected following 9,099 PCR tests and 91,892 rapid tests.

The PCR tests uncovered the following infections: 32 from 1,307 contact tracing tests, 22 from 5,310 airport tests, 97 from 1,776 tests taken privately and 24 from 379 hospital tests.

The 61,481 rapid tests taken privately – typically amongst the unvaccinated who are not eligible for free tests – returned 412 positives.

The government’s free screening programme for select groups carried out 30,411 tests and uncovered 119 infections.

The government’s programme also uncovered five infections at care homes, another 26 amongst primary school students and a further 15 amongst secondary school students.

Meanwhile, the north reported 242 Covid-19 infections on Monday – raising their total reported to 30,467. Monday’s infections were identified following 27,282 tests.