The Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that another eight people have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 132 (including three in the British Bases).
According to the update from the Ministry of Health, the new confirmed cases are:
- 4 found through tracing of the contacts of people who were found positive to Coronavirus
- 2 are people who had returned from trips to Europe
- 2 whose history is being investigated
69 of the 132 confirmed cases are from contact with other people found positive to Coronavirus.
Announcing the results, Leontios Kostrikis reiterated that people should comply with stay at home decrees. “What we are building today, we will see the benefits of later. And the opposite. Stay home,” he said.
Dr Marios Loizou said that a three-month old baby was currently in Makarios Hospital as a precaution after having come into contact with a confirmed case and is in good condition.
Loizou said 17 patients are being treated at Famagusta Hospital in Paralimni which is the referral hospital for coronavirus, two of them in the ward with increased care. Another is in a ward in Nicosia Hospital.
Currently five people are intubated, one more than yesterday – two in Nicosia’s ICU and three in Limassol. Their condition is described as critical but steady.
Loizou said that intubation and proper support at the ICUs of patients with respiratory problems increases their chances of survival, which is why concerted efforts are underway to make available more hospital beds with the proper equipment.
At the same time, there was an obligation to secure the necessary protective gear to the medical professionals so that they can carry out their duties as safely as possible.
Three men have died from Covid-19 in Cyprus – two Britons aged 65 and 70 with underlying health conditions and a Cypriot, aged 58 who had no underlying health conditions.
Asked whether the death of the 58 year old who had no medical problems should be of concern, Loizou said: “No-one should be complacent. The virus affects everyone and that is why the measures should be implemented in the strictest possible way and everyone should do their duty.”
The Epidemiological monitoring unit has already started tracing the contacts of the new cases and will take swabs to run tests.
