Cyprus on Monday saw a steep increase in daily new COVID-19 cases as government shifted its focus on testing frontline workers such as medics, supermarket staff and bakeries.
Cyprus health authorities reported 29 new confirmed cases – up from 19 the day before – and one more death from coronavirus on Monday.
A 79-year-old man who had underlying health issues is the latest COVID-19 victim.
The total number of deaths attributed to SARS-CoV-2 is 12, eight men and four women, with a mean age of 69.
The 29 new cases were detected from 891 lab tests with 12 of the people found positive employed at the same production unit.
Some 418 tests were performed on contacts of known cases and 473 tests were carried out on frontline workers.
A total of 19 people was detected through tracing the contacts of already confirmed cases, 10 from the frontline testing scheme launched during the weekend.
Although the 20,000 tests were to be in addition those already being carried out, only 74 more tests were carried out compared to the 814 the previous day.
Furthermore, despite the small increase in tests, positive cases rose by 70%.
The Health Ministry failed to clarify the lag in parallel testing strategies.
The 20,000 tests are scheduled to be completed within 20 days.
As of Saturday, when the program kicked off, 621 frontline workers have been tested.
According to Monday’s data, the total number of cases is 662, including 10 in the British Bases.
The 662 COVID-19 cases were detected from a total of 18,814 tests by the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, the Microbiological Lab at Nicosia General Hospital and private labs.
Health Ministry advisor Dr Leontios Kostrikis said the figures for the last 24 hours include 12 frontline employees from the same workplace.
“Latest evidence strengthens the scientific team’s call for people to stay home and follow the personal hygiene instructions given to the public.”
“The scientific team invites you to always keep in mind that potentially the virus is everywhere and can infect you. Even in your home. So, we urge you to be very careful,” said Kostrikis.
Dr Marios Loizou of the Cyprus State Health Services Organisation said there are 23 patients being treated at the Famagusta Referral hospital, two in the Special care Unit while three have been discharged.
There are nine patients on ventilators, two at Limassol General ICU and six at Nicosia General ICU.
The condition of all patients in the ICUs is critical but stable.
Loizou called on people to continue to abide by social distancing decrees and instructions issued.
“The common interest of the community is above everything else, so I would like to remind everyone that restrictions on free movement will remain in place during Easter”.
Loizou also called on supermarket owners and grocers to abide by hygiene instructions during this period.
