40 new COVID cases detected, as numbers hit two-month low

Just 40 new cases of COVID-19 were detected between Monday and Tuesday, the lowest number of daily cases in more than two months.
The 40 new cases were detected from 1,776 swab tests – a lower number of tests compared to the figures processed in the past weeks – leading to a positive rate of 2.25 per cent. That rate is still lower than the average rate registered over the past weeks.
A total of 144 patients recovered from the virus over the past 24 hours, meaning that the number of active cases in the country as of 12.30pm on Tuesday stood at 1,901.[attach id=959573 size="medium" align="right" type="image"][/attach]
Two further deaths
Data provided by the Health Ministry also indicated that two further COVID-19 patients died over the past day, with the death toll rising to 157. In a separate statement, the ministry said that the two victims were: 

A 77-year-old man who first tested positive on December 4
An 89-year-old woman who first tested positive on Monday, December 7

Both patients died at Mater Dei Hospital. The male victim died on Monday while the woman died early on Tuesday morning. Of the 10699 coronavirus cases registered in the country so far, 8641 patients have...