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Authorities announced 63 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday

19/10/2020 09:16

Sixty-three new Covid-19 cases were announced on Sunday in Cyprus, bringing the total to 2.644. The Ministry of Health notes in a press release that it is alarming that 22 of the cases were contacts of people already tested positive to the virus. 

It is also noted that one third of the 3,688 laboratory tests done in the last 24 hours came from samples taken in the framework of the programme of testing on passengers and repatriates arriving at the airports. Five of them were found positive to the virus.

Fifty-seven cases were found after 2,300 tests processed by the laboratories operating on Sunday as during the weekend two major private labs conducting tests in Limassol remained closed. It should be noted that stricter measures came in effect as of today in Limassol as provided by a decree issued yesterday by the Ministry of Health after an increased number of coronavirus cases were recorded in the coastal town and it was established that there were a number of clusters among young people.

Furthermore, the Ministry notes that 22 of the cases announced today were found in the process of contact tracing leading to the conclusion that there are active clusters in the community thus it is imperative that compliance with the measures is being showed.

The Ministry also describes as alarming the situation as regards patients being treated at hospitals.

It is additionally noted that two of the cases are under investigation and more information will be announced when tracing is completed.

The 61 cases were detected as follows:

Out of 280 samples taken in the context of contact tracing 22 cases were found; twenty-seven (27) cases were found from 932 samples tested on private initiative; from 1,249 tests done in the framework of testing passengers and repatriates 5 cases were found; 4 cases were detected from 220 samples tested by the Microbiology Laboratories of the General Hospitals; from 222 tests done after GP referrals and in the context of testing special groups one case was found; one case was found out of 318  tests carried out in villages in the districts of Larnaka and Famagusta;  from 253 samples taken from footballers one case was found.

No case was found after 20 tests carried out at schools, 46 tests done at retirement houses and 48 tests carried out among immigrants at special centers.

Additionally, 15 patients are being treated at Famagusta General Hospital from where seven patients were discharged, while two new cases were hospitalised.

Two more patients are intubated at the ICU of Nicosia General Hospital, while in other hospitals are being treated another two patients.