The health ministry announced 226 new positive cases of coronavirus on Saturday out of 41,809 PCR and rapid tests, a positivity rate of 0.54 per cent.

No deaths were reported, but 43 people are in hospital with the virus, 18 of whom are in serious condition.

Out of the 41,809 tests, 5,777 were by the molecular method (PCR) and 36,032 by the antigen rapid test method.

Thirty-three cases were found from 454 samples from close contacts of already confirmed cases.

Six positive cases were part of passenger checks at Larnaca and Paphos airports.

Forty-six cases found from 2,612 samples taken through private initiative and one case from state labs.

A further 140 cases found from 35,567 from the state’s rapid testing programme.

Based on the results of the rapid tests the positivity rates are as follow: Nicosia 0.30%, Limassol 0.48%, Larnaca 0.24%, Paphos 0.16%, Famagusta 0.94%