While Cyprus is getting a grip on the spread of coronavirus, keeping cases in the single-digit range for more than two weeks, over half of those infected have fully recovered.
According to the latest epidemiological report containing data until 12 May, some 481 (53.1%) of 904 cases reported have made a full recovery.
In total, 19.1% (n = 173) of cases received hospital care, of which 135 (78%) have been discharged from the hospital.
The median age of all hospitalized patients is: 62 years (interquartile range: 49-73 years), and 65.3% are males.
Numbers in ICUs are dropping as on 12 May, only four patients were still in intensive care units, all of were intubated.
Case characteristics
Health Ministry data shows healthcare workers are the largest group of professionals stricken by COVID-19, as one out of five cases involves a medic.
Among the 904 cases, 20.9% are healthcare workers (n = 189) – 4.3% physicians (n = 39), 10.5% nurses (n = 95), 1.4% other health occupations (n = 13), and 4.7% auxiliary staff (n = 42).
Regarding the characteristics of cases the virus did not distinguish sex as 50.2% are male (n = 454) and 49.8% female (n = 450). The median age of cases is 45 years (IQR: 32-59 years).
By age group, cases included 56 infants, children and adolescents aged 0-17 (6.2%), 625 adults aged 18-59 (69.1%), and 223 persons aged 60 and older (24.7%)
Cyprus can boast it kept the mortality rate of COVID-19 at the low end of the scale, at 2.5% of known cases.
As of May 12, a total of 904 COVID-19 cases and 23 deaths (case fatality rate: 2.5%) have been reported in the Republic of Cyprus.
This is significantly lower than Italy’s 14% and the UK’s 14.4%, Greece’s death rate stands at 5.5% and Sweden’s at 12.2%.
The mortality rate for COVID-19 is 2.6 per 100,000 population.
Seventeen deaths (73.9%) occurred in men and six (26.1%) in women; the median age of all deaths was 76 years (IQR: 66-79 years).
Nine deaths were reported among residents in Larnaca, six in Paphos, three in Nicosia and Famagusta, each, and two in Limassol
In total, 19.1% (n = 173) of people with COVID-19 received hospital care, and 135 patients (78%) have been discharged from the hospital.
The median age of hospitalized patients was 62 years (IQR: 49-73 years).
Hospitalised cases were mainly males (n = 113; 65.3%).
Overall, 32 cases (18.5% of all hospitalized patients) have been admitted to ICU4, of which 4 were still in ICU (as of May 12).
A total of 27 ICU patients (84.4% of all ICU patients) have been intubated, of which 4 (100% of all patients currently in ICU) are still intubated.
Case distribution by district
Among all cases, 350 (38.7%) were reported in Nicosia district, 234 (25.9%) in Larnaca, 155 (17.2%) in Paphos, 103 (11.4%) in Limassol, 41 (4.5%) in Famagusta, and 21 (2.3%) were reported either in British bases or had a residence abroad, or information was not available.
Notably, 123 cases (13.6%) were reported in Aradippou, a municipality in Larnaca district.
Cases in Aradippou, including a cluster in a local bakery production line, are mainly males (58.5%; n = 72) and the median age is 49 years (IQR: 33-62 years).
If the cluster is excluded, cases are mainly female (53.7%; n = 51) and the median age is 55 years (IQR: 39-69years).
Cyprus boasts one of the highest testing rates as a total 78,239 tests have been performed (8,932.4 per 100,000 population), significantly higher than other countries around the globe.
Italy performs some 4,424.3 for every 100,000, while South Korea does 1,318.7 tests.
Case figures may shoot up after the reopening of more sectors of the economy and schools.
Cyprus’ Health Ministry is offering some 20,000 free tests to employees who have returned to work as of 4 May. Until Thursday some 4,000 tests were carried out.
Also, some 20,000 students and teachers will be tested when schools reopen on 21 May.
R0 under 1
Cyprus has also contained the spread of coronavirus, as the reproductive rate (R0) of COVID-19 is now below 1, meaning that each infected carrier transmits the virus to less than one other person.
The reproductive rate of COVID-19 is between 0.7 and 1.42.
The Epidemiological monitoring unit has used three modules to calculate the R0 with the high end of calculations in two scenarios being 0.98 and 1.6.
Dr George Nicolopoulos, professor of epidemiology and a member of the unit, said that keeping the reproductive rate below 1 was the key which allowed authorities to relax lockdown measures.
The epidemiologist said that it is scientist’s belief that currently the R0, although marginally, it is below one.
Keeping the reproductive rate below 1 is also crucial for future stages of relaxing restrictions, which is why epidemiologists urge people to abide by hygiene and self-protection measures like washing hands and wearing a mask in crowded places.
