Coronavirus: No Covid patients in ICU as 1,814 new cases reported in last week

There are currently 35 coronavirus patients in state hospitals, but in a significant improvement in the island’s epidemiological indicators, there is no longer anyone being treated for Covid in an intensive care unit.

In its latest coronavirus update for the period May 27 to June 2 on Friday, the health ministry reported 1,814 new cases after 65,706 tests, a positivity rate of 2.76 per cent.

The total number of coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic is now 491,777.

The ministry also announced eight new deaths, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 1,067.

The eight deaths concerned five men and three women, aged between 50 and 88. Two of the deaths occurred in 2021, and the remaining six between May 28 and 31.

The health ministry said that of the 35 patients with Covid in state hospitals, one is in serious condition. None are on the ventilator or in the ICU. However, six post-Covid patients remain intubated in the ICU.

A total of 65,706 tests were carried out in the past week, of which 4,321 were PCR tests that resulted in 216 positive cases. The remaining 61,385 were rapid tests with 1,598 people testing positive.

The ministry said three positive cases were detected after 81 PCR tests carried out by the contact tracing team, and another 166 after 3,116 PCR tests by private initiative.

The biggest chunk of positive cases – 1,503 – were detected after 49,275 rapid tests carried out by private initiative.

There were also 12,110 rapid tests under of the health ministry’s programme. These led to 95 people testing positive — 73 at testing sites (after 3,172 tests) two in the national guard (after 1,010 tests), 17 in care homes (after 3,973 tests) and three in closed facilities (after 3,995 tests).