This brings the total number of cases to 662 including 10 from the British bases.

A 79-year-old man died of coronavirus on Sunday evening at the Nicosia general hospital. He had an underlying condition.

In total 12 of the new cases concern co-workers and include 19 people who were identified through contact tracing of known cases; among them a health professional and a patient at Larnaca hospital. The rest are people who tested positive among 473 samples taken as part of the 20,000 tests being carried out among public and private sector workers. So far, 621 tests have been completed. Testing in all districts by private labs started last Saturday and is expected to be completed within 20 days.

Twelve people have died so far from Covid-19, while five others who had the virus died of other health issues.

Nine patients are on ventilators: two at the Limassol hospital’s intensive care unit and seven at that of Nicosia hospital. There are also four more patients at the Nicosia hospital’s ICU who are not on ventilators. Their condition is critical but stable.

According to virologist Dr Leontios Kostrikkis, who announced the latest results, it was important to carry out tests among people who continue to work outside of their home.

“We want to restrict the spread of Covid-19 and ensure to the best possible extent that workplaces are virus-free,” he said.

He urged members of the public to keep in mind that the virus could be everywhere and infect them, “even in your homes”.

“We urge you to be especially careful,” he said.

Dr Marios Loizou, from the state health operator Okypy reminded the public that there will be no relaxations in movement during the Holy Week. Christian orthodox Easter this year is on April 19.

“We appeal to the owners and managers of supermarkets, fruit and vegetable markerts, butchers, and so on, to be very strict and observe the rules as regards the number of persons per square metre,” Loizou said.

The government had said there should not be more than one person per eight square metres in closed space areas.

Loizou also recalled that house visits are banned during the Easter holidays.

“If we want next Easter to be all of us together, we must spend this Easter alone,” he said.