More that 40 new coronavirus cases have been recorded in the space of four days, health officials announced last night.

The 42 new cases brought the number of active coronavirus infections up to 141, with five people in hospital, up from one on Friday. One person remains in intensive care.

Officials said 118 of the active cases were of the more virulent Delta variant of the coronavirus, 17 cases cannot be determined and six were not available. Of all the active cases, 33 are under investigation.

The news sparked a fresh warning about safety precautions to cut the spread of infection – with particular attention to the risk of the on-the-job spread of the coronavirus.

A health ministry spokeswoman said: “We are also seeing clusters of cases emerging in various workplaces.

She told the public: “It is critically important to remember that your workplace is not your bubble.

“Your bubble is your household and socialising outside your bubble can contribute to workplace spread.”

She added that church choir members should be six feet apart when singing and masks should be worn when not performing.

The spokeswoman said members of the congregation should stand three feet away from each other unless part of the same household and wear masks throughout the service.

Pastors and ministers should also wear a mask when not speaking.

The spokeswoman added that it was important to realise that singing, as well as the playing of wind and brass instruments, could increase the spray of respiratory droplets.

She added that outdoor services and facilities should be used “whenever possible”.

There are 136 cases of the coronavirus being monitored by public health officials.

The new cases were identified between last Thursday and Sunday.

The number of cases recorded as on-island transmissions with known contacts was 21 and 14 came in from overseas.

Another seven were classed as under investigation because they were among residents with no known link to identified cases of history of travel in the last 14 days.

There have been 25 recoveries from infection since the last update.

Of the imported active cases, 36 or 84 per cent were fully vaccinated and seven or 16 per cent were not vaccinated.

Of the local and under investigation cases: 24 or 25 percent were fully vaccinated and 74 or 75 percent were not.

The 141 active cases are the highest since May 18.

The spokeswoman said that SafeKey status was not needed to walk through a restaurant to get to a table or to a toilet because in both cases customers should be masked.

She added: “SafeKey is only required when dining indoors.”

But she advised the public to “avoid indoor spaces, crowded spaces and close contacts”.

The new overseas cases came in on 12 flights.

One was a resident who arrived on the Delta flight from Atlanta last Sunday and was positive on arrival.

One was a resident who came on the BA flight from London on the same day and was also positive on arrival.

Two residents who arrived on the Delta flight from Atlanta last Saturday also tested positive at the airport.

A non-resident who arrived on the United flight from Newark on the same day tested positive on arrival.

A non-resident off Air Canada flight from Toronto, who also arrived last Saturday, tested positive on arrival.

One resident who arrived on the American Airlines flight from Charlotte on August 17 tested positive on their Day 4 test.

A non-resident who arrived on the Delta plane from Atlanta on the same day also tested positive on Day 4.

Two non-residents who arrived on the JetBlue flight from New York on August 16 tested positive on Day 4.

A non-resident who arrived on JetBlue from New York on August 15 tested positive on Day 4.

A resident who came in on the American Airlines flight from Charlotte on the same day tested positive on Day 4.

Another resident who arrived on the Delta flight from New York on August 9 tested positive on the Day 10 test.

A non-resident who came in on the BA flight from London on August 5 tested positive on their outbound test.