Authorities announced one death, 143 new coronavirus cases

The Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday that an 86 year old woman with underlying health conditions died of COVID19 bringing the number of deaths to 231, of whom 154 men (67%), and 77 women (33%) with their median age being 79.

In addition, 81 patients are receiving treatment in state hospitals, 25 of whom in a serious condition.

In the last 24 hours 26,603 tests were carried out to detect the coronavirus and 143 new cases were announced (positivity rate 0.54%).

Since the outbreak of the pandemic Cyprus has recorded  33,710 cases.

Eleven out of the 25 patients who are in a serious condition are intubated. In the Famagusta General Hospital there are 22 patients receiving treatment, 23 in the Nicosia General Hospital and 36 in the Limassol General Hospital.

The 143 new coronavirus cases were diagnosed after 26,603 laboratory tests (1,694 PCR and 24,909 antigen rapid tests). Forty-nine of the new cases were detected after contact tracing of first degree contacts, 2 after contact tracing of second degree contacts, 12 after tests done upon private initiative, 4 from samples taken in the Microbiology Laboratories of the General Hospitals, 2 after rapid tests done in private laboratories, and 74 were detected after antigen rapid tests done in the framework of the Health Ministry's programme.

Meanwhile, no cases were found from 250 samples taken after GP referrals, and 3 samples taken in the framework of tests carried out in the Cyprus Federations of Basketball and Volleyball.