Five deaths attributed to Covid-19 and 2,779 new infections were announced on Wednesday out of 95,572 PCR and rapid tests.

The deaths were four men, aged 65, 85, 88 and 90. A woman, aged 94, also died – raising the total deaths attributed to the virus to 761.

There are 199 people in hospital with the virus of whom 49 are in serious condition. The health ministry said patients in hospital without a vaccination history stands at 65.33 per cent.

Wednesday’s 95,572 tests identified the 2,779 infections, at a positivity rate of 2.91 per cent.

The 5,990 PCR tests yielded 484 positives, a positivity rate of 8.08 per cent.

The 89,582 rapid tests identified 2,295 positives at a rate of 2,56 per cent.

A total of 11,893 tests at secondary schools picked up 80 positives, while the test-to-stay programme identified 76 positives out of 6,620 tests.

The health ministry’s rapid test programme carried out 45,185 such checks and picked up 992 positives.

Notably, care homes carried out 1,338 rapid tests and found 19 positives.