Cyprus announced 33 new Covid-19 confirmed cases

Cypriot health authorities announced on Tuesday 33 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections in Cyprus bringing the total tally to 695.

The new 33 cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed following 1,703 samples tested today with total laboratory test reaching 20,517, Dr. Leontios Kostrikis, member of the Advisory Body on the pandemic, told a press conference.

According to Kostrikis, 13 infections were diagnosed through the tracing of contacts with previously confirmed cases, one infection was diagnosed to a person repatriated from abroad while an additional 16 persons were diagnosed from single bakery.

He added that since the commencement of 20,000 of random tests last Saturday, 1,276 tests have been completed.

Kostrikis described the results during the last 24 hours concerning the tracing of contacts as encouraging, adding, however, that “the number of confirmed cases traced among the population is especially concerning as it confirms that the virus is within the community and is spreading.”

“Data coming before us show that many persons have been infected because the failed to take the basic precaution and especially have not understood the importance of social distancing,” he added.

On his part, Dr Marios Loizou, Scientific Director at the Nicosia Directorate of the Cyprus State Health Services Organisation said that until 15:00 local time 23 persons are being hospitalized in the Famagusta General Hospital, designated as the Covid-19 reference hospital of Cyprus, with two in the intense care unit, while two persons have exited the hospital.

Loizou added that nine patients are connected to a respirator, two in the Limassol Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and six in the Nicosia Hospital ICU, while three persons have been disconnected but remain in intensive care in the Nicosia General Hospital.
An additional five persons are hospitalized in public hospitals other than the reference hospital, he added.

Referring to the 20,000 random tests, which aim to trace infected persons that have no symptoms, Loizou said that tracing this group of patients will assist significantly in tracing potential risks and potential spread clusters. “An asymptomatic patient has no fever, is not coughing and does not sneeze. If safety measures are obsevered strictly it is very difficult (for these patients) to spread the diseases,” he said.

Furthermore, according to data released by the Ministry of Health, Cyprus has so far recorded 16 deaths of whom 11 caused by Covid-19. 26 persons have been treated in intensive care ucorresponding to 4.1% of total infections, while Cyprus has carried out 2,046.2 laboratory tests per 100,000 people.

Moreover, 50% of Covid-19 patients are female and 49% male, while 65% of patients are in the 18-59 age group and 27% are above sixty-year old.