Authorities confirm seven new COVID-19 cases

Authorities in Cyprus confirmed on Sunday seven new COVID-19 positive cases, after conducting a total of 2,415 laboratory tests.

The existing epidemiological data pave the way to ease restrictions in the coming days, said Leontios Kostrikis, a member of the Advisory Body, he pointed however to the country’s political leadership for relevant decisions.

Taking into account the latest data, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases rose to 817, including 10 cases located in the British Bases.
 
According to the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, one positive case was found after conducting 1,047 tests in the framework of a program by the Ministry of Health to test 20,000 professionals.

Three people were found positive after testing 190 passengers returning to Cyprus from abroad. Two more were detected after conducting tests at their own initiative while one more case was found positive after conducting 282 random tests.

“After today’s encouraging results, a credible epidemiological picture is being formed, allowing us to reach the safe conclusion that we can now enter the next stage, the gradual lifting of restrictive measures” said Kostrikis.
   
He went on to say that the Advisory Body deems that the existing data pave the way to ease restrictions in the next few days. Kostrikis said that he will not get into more details and that they will inform the political leadership first, which is responsible for taking any decisions.
 
After expressing content about the course of events, Kostrikis cautioned that strict adherence to rules of personal hygiene and self-protection measures need to accompany any decision to lift measures.

Dr Marios Loizou, the Scientific Director at the Nicosia Directorate of the Cyprus State Health Services Organisation, said from his part that according to data until Sunday at 3.00pm, 18 people were hospitalized at Famagusta General Hospital, two of them at the ICU. All patients are generally stable, he added.

He said moreover that five patients remain intubated in various hospitals, while another four are at the ICU of Nicosia General Hospital without being intubated. Their condition is critical but stable, he added. Three confirmed cases are treated in rooms in various other hospitals, apart from Famagusta hospital.

Loizou said moreover that they announced the guidelines to contain COVID-19 at the Artificial Kidney Units and dialysis facilties.

He stressed finally the need to be alert in order to protect vulnerable groups. “Our success until now in protecting those groups gave us the right to be proud as a society and is decisive in relation to the possibility we now have to proceed with the gradual lifting of measures” he concluded.