Updated 3.01pm to include second death 

Two elderly men have died while diagnosed with COVID-19, raising Malta's death toll to 23.

On Monday morning the Health Ministry said a 98-year-old man has become Malta's 22nd coronavirus victim.

The patient, who resided at a home for the elderly, tested positive on September 6 and was transferred to Mater Dei Hospital.

The death of another man, 83, was announced in the afternoon. 

He was found to have COVID-19 when he was admitted to hospital on September 16.

Both men had underlying medical conditions, the ministry said. It offered condolences to their families. 

Last week was Malta’s worst week since the start of the pandemic, with six patients dying and record numbers of new cases recorded.

Three of the six deaths registered over the past seven days came on Saturday, with another on Sunday.

Malta also registered a record number of new coronavirus cases with the highest daily tally of 106 new patients, recorded on Wednesday.