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COVID19: Disproportionate number of Cypriots dying in UK

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UK Cypriots make up almost 6% of all COVID-19 deaths recorded in London as close to 200 diaspora Greek and Turkish Cypriots have lost their lives to the virus.

London-based Greek Cypriot newspaper, Parikiaki, said that after having contacted local hospitals, churches, the Turkish Cypriot community, funeral directors and from death announcements placed in its newspaper, over 200 British Cypriots have died from coronavirus – mostly in the UK capital.

Meanwhile, according to the paper’s sources, many more have contracted the disease, and several are in hospital.

The fatalities include 120 UK Greek Cypriots, 65 UK Turkish Cypriots and one UK Maronite Cypriot, all from London.

Outside London, there were four from Birmingham, three from Weston-Super-Mare, one from Derby, one from Lowestoft, one from Cambridge, one from Cheltenham, one from Liverpool, one from Luton and one from Southend.

The paper noted that the community is becoming very concerned over “emerging evidence” that suggests coronavirus is having a disproportionate impact on UK Cypriots.

“We make up 3% of the population of London – if we are 300,000 out of 9 million, but we account for almost 6% of all COVID-19 related deaths in the capital,” wrote the paper.

It said, statistically speaking, the Cypriot community should have recorded around 90 deaths, some 96 less than actual figures, noting that divided Cyprus, which has a population of around a million, has recorded only 16 deaths in total.

The paper argues that this means that “96 lives could have been saved if UK Government advice was followed correctly”.

Parikiaki expressed fears that coronavirus cases could spike during Orthodox Easter which traditionally sees large family gatherings.

“We urge our community to please respect yourselves, others and adhere to laws stating that these gatherings should be limited to those who live within the household, otherwise, we can expect an acceleration of coronavirus deaths, possibly even doubling the current figures,” warned Parikiaki