Coronavirus: Two deaths, 650 new infections (Updated)

The health ministry announced two deaths from Covid-19 and 650 new infections on Wednesday, while 157 patients are in hospital receiving treatment for the virus.

A 95-year-old man who died on Tuesday and an 82-year-old woman who died on Wednesday were the latest fatalities, according to the ministry.

There are currently 157 people in hospital for Covid-19, of whom 54 are in serious or critical condition. Of those in hospital, 77.08 per cent are unvaccinated.

Today’s infections were identified following 85,024 tests, resulting in a positivity rate of 0.76 per cent.

The 85,024 tests carried out on Wednesday comprised 7,996 PCR tests and 77,028 rapid tests.

The PCR tests identified the following: 115 from 1,173 contact tracing tests, 21 from 3,510 airport tests, 124 from 2,807 private tests and 16 from 274 hospital tests.

Rapid tests taken privately – typically amongst the unvaccinated – totalled 43,200 and identified 257 positives.

The government’s screening programme for select groups carried out 33,828 tests and uncovered 115 infections.

One infection was reported at care homes, 21 from primary schools and 15 from secondary schools.

The north, meanwhile, reported 218 infections on Wednesday following 15,479 tests. Total infections reported in the break-away region now total 32,581 while deaths attributed to Covid-19 number 121.