Cyprus health authorities announced on Tuesday one death and 941 new Covid-19 cases, as the island’s hospitals face the biggest challenges since the outbreak of the pandemic.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Health, Cyprus’ death toll reached 295, while total infections have risen to 58,022.

A total of 56,768 tests were carried out today, with the daily positivity rate increasing to 1.66%. A total of 277 patients are treated in hospitals of which 68 in ACUs or ICUs while 30 are intubated.

According to the Ministry the deceased is a 69-year-old man who was vaccinated with the first dose of a COVID vaccine. Of the 295 deaths 66% are male and 34% female.

The 941 new positive cases were found following 56,768 tests of which 6,815 were PCR tests and 49,953 antigen rapid tests.

A total of 188 cases were found after 1,672 samples tested in the process of the contact tracing programme, 211 new cases were detected following 3,351 tests done privately, 36 new cases were found after 1,107 rapid antigen tests done in private clinical labs and pharmacies, 21 new cases were diagnosed following 282 tests carried out by General Hospitals Microbiological Labs, 2 new cases following 316 tests don on GPs referrals, 8 new cases were detected after 1,194 tests done at the airports, while 475 new cases were found following 48,846 test done in the framework of the Ministry’s rapid antigen testing programme.

As regards rapid tests, 207 cases were detected in Nicosia, (positivity rate 1.37%), 128 in Limassol (positivity rate 1.29%), 77 in Larnaca (positivity rate 1.28%), 27 in Paphos (positivity rate 0.81%) and 13 cases were found in Famagusta (positivity rate 0.62%).