One man, aged 78 and with underlying health conditions, has also died, bringing the total deaths to 18. Of these 13 have been directly linked to coronavirus, nine men and four women. The rest had Covid-19 when they died but it was not recorded as the direct cause of death. The average age of death is 70.

“From the health ministry’s programme to test 20,000 workers there have been another 705 tests without a single positive case,” said virologist, Leontios Kostrikis, a member of the health ministry’s epidemiological team.

A total of 11,318 tests have so far been carried out since April 11 until April 22 out of the programme’s target of 20,000.

“As we said yesterday as well, the cases of the past few days are painting an encouraging picture,” Kostrikis said.

“It confirms the very good course which we are on and shows the results of the strategy we are pursuing.”

It was also announced that three cases were confirmed via contact tracing after 233 tests.

Wednesday’s new cases are a result of 1441 tests.

No new cases were recorded from people who had recently returned to Cyprus.

One person tested positive out of a total of 233 tests of state health services employees. He is a health professional at Larnaca general hospital and all the necessary steps are being taken.

“As a country we have been able, despite the difficult circumstances, to offer the best possible care for those with the virus,” said scientific director at the health services organisation (Okypy) Dr Marios Loizou.

“The health system has been able to locate, monitor and treat wherever it was necessary and not only for the serious cases but also for the mild ones,” he said.

In the north no new cases were announced, according to an announcement from the ‘health ministry’. They have so far confirmed 108 cases and 4 deaths.

A total of 646 tests were carried out in the north on Wednesday.

The highest number of cases recorded so far in the Republic was on April 1 when 58 Covid-19 infections were confirmed. Since then, there have been fewer reported cases each day but with some notable fluctuations.

Twelve new cases were confirmed on April 21, five on April 20 and six on April 19.

The first case was confirmed in Cyprus on March 9, in the Republic. A day later, March 10, the north recorded its first case.

The first death from Covid-19 in Cyprus was reported on March 21, just over a month ago.

Source: Cyprus Mail