Cyprus is stepping up tests for coronavirus as part of efforts to gain a better picture of contagion in the community.
This was announced by President Nicos Anastasiades on Wednesday, one of a series of measures to combat the epidemic — including extending the lockdown until the end of April.
He said that tests will be carried out on representative samples of the population in all the districts, similar to the testing in Paphos.
It was later clarified that a random sample of 800 people will be selected in a bid to estimate the contagion more generally in Cyprus and to compare age groups and districts.
Moreover, 20,000 additional tests will be carried out on those working in businesses that remain open under the decree as well as in the public sector, including the National Guard. These will be carried out over the next 20 days.
Tests will also be carried out on all those who will be repatriating.
All these tests are over and above those carried out among those who exhibit symptoms or who are found after tracing for coming into contact with positive cases.
More than 14,000 tests have already been carried out in Cyprus. A total of 526 have tested positive.
