Coronavirus: one dead, 751 new cases (updated)

One person has died and 751 people have tested positive for coronavirus, the health ministry said on Monday, the first time it was announcing combined PCR and rapid test results.

Of the total, 449 were from rapid tests. Earlier on Monday, the health ministry said that because of the high level of accuracy of the rapid antigen tests, these will henceforth be included in results and will not require verification by PCR.

The deceased, a man aged 81, had underlying health conditions. His death at Limassol Hospital brings the total number of deaths directly attributed to coronavirus since the start of the outbreak to 113 of whom 65 per cent men. The average age is 80.

The ministry said there are 153 Covid-19 patients in hospital. There are 51 patients in serious condition of whom 27 in the ICU of Nicosia General, one in the ICU of Limassol General and the remainder in high dependency units.

A total of 13,482 tests were carried out, both rapid and PCR tests. The 751 new cases bring the total since the start of the outbreak to 20,408.

The 751 new cases were detected as follows: 194 from 1304 tests from tracing, three from 480 tests among returning passengers, 51 from 244 private initiative tests, 45 from 327 tests from the hospital labs, seven from 110 tests after referrals and two from 137 repeat tests one week after arrival of passengers who came from the UK and are in quarantine. In addition, 449 tested positive after 10,881 rapid antigen tests.

As regards the rapid tests, 76 of the positive cases were detected in Limassol (positivity rate 4.62 per cent), Larnaca 126 (positivity rate 4.91 per cent), Nicosia 131 (positivity rate 3.03 per cent), Paphos 23 (positivity rate 6.48 per cent) and Famagusta 32 (positivity rate 7.11 per cent).  In addition, 14 positive cases were detected in care homes (Nicosia, seven Larnaca six and Paphos one), ten in national guard army camps and 12 in closed facilities. Finally, 25 positive cases were detected after private initiative rapid tests.

 

 

 

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