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Another person dies of COVID-19 in Cyprus, 16 new cases announced on Monday

31/03/2020 09:46

One more death, a 77-years-old man, was announced Monday by authorities in Cyprus.

The Ministry of Health also announced 16 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total confirmed cases to 230. The number of deaths increased to seven, of which one woman and six men.

Based on data announced today, the total number of confirmed cases reached 230 including five cases in the British Bases on the island.

Out of the 230 cases, 130 were identified through tracing contacts of people already infected which means that these infections occurred here in Cyprus, as it was reported at today`s press conference at the Ministry of Health.

Speaking during a press conference at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Leontios Kostrikis, member of the Advisory Body on the pandemic, said that out of 400 lab tests 16 cases were confirmed positive to the virus.

Two people have returned from European countries so they are considered imported infections, four people identified through tracing contacts of already confirmed cases and 10 people whose medical record is being investigated.

He noted that the 230 confirmed cases were identified after conducting a total of 6,847 laboratory tests by the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and the Microbiology Department of the Nicosia General Hospital.

Leontios Kostrikis stressed that 22 people who have been diagnosed positive with the virus and needed to be hospitalized have recovered.

On behalf of the scientific team, he made an dramatic appeal to all citizens to strictly follow the instructions issued by the authorities limiting their movements to a minimum and staying at home. “Because there is no vaccine or medicine, this is the only way to protect ourselves from the virus and  those around us”, he noted.

On his part, Dr. Marios Loizou, SHSO’s (State Health Services Organisation) Scientific Director of the Nicosia directorate, speaking at the press conference, said that "unfortunately, we have lost one more fellow human being in the fight against the pandemic. A 77-year old man. Following this unpleasant development, the deaths from COVID-19 in Cyprus reached 7 of which 6 men and 1 woman, with an average age of 66. Five of them had some form of aggravating factors. "

He said that according to figures released until 3pm (local time), 24 people are hospitalized at Famagusta General Hospital that has been designated as the referral hospital, adding that five patients are being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) as four patients have already been discharged.

He also said that ten people are hospitalized of which three in the Intensive Care Unit of the Limassol General Hospital and seven in that of Nicosia General Hospital. The condition of these patients up to this moment is stable but critical, he said.

He also reiterated how serious the whole situation is noting that “we are dealing with a dangerous deadly enemy”.

Marios Loizou reassured once more that patients in Cyprus  have and will have the same treatment options as patients worldwide have. “But the point is to not get to the point of being dependent on treatment. " he concluded.

In response to a question, he said that the total number of orphan cases stands at 9.