COVID19: Cyprus cases stay low as lockdown exit looms

Cyprus is containing COVID-19 as it prepares for the next stage of lockdown on May 21 as only two new cases of coronavirus were confirmed on Sunday, both from testing via private initiative.

A total of 2,248  tests were carried out, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

Two tested positive from 206 tests from tests done on private initiative. The total number of confirmed cases rose to 916, including 12 in the British Bases.

Unlike Saturday, no one tested positive from 497 tests on school students and teaching staff.

In addition, no one tested positive from 114 tests on tracing contacts of already confirmed cases, or the other testing schemes that carried out on a daily basis.

Four people remain inpatients at Famagusta General, which operates as the reference hospital for COVID-19.

One patient is being treated at the special care unit. Three patients are on a ventilator at Nicosia General Hospital ICU, with their condition remaining critical but stable.

Schools deep cleaned

The Education Ministry announced that the four positive cases announced Saturday were from schools in Aradippou, Paphos and Nicosia.

Aradippou and Paphos have been described as COVID-19 clusters in Cyprus.

Two students were tested positive at the Aradippou Lyceum, one kindergarten employee in Paphos tested positive while the fourth case concerns a cleaner at a high school in the Nicosia district.

The Health Ministry said it will deep clean all the premises affected and the protocol will be followed such as self-isolation.

The Education Ministry said the two schools in Aradippou and Nicosia will reopen when the deep clean is completed.

It said school testing will be enhanced in the coming days to include more students, especially in Aradippou.

Final-year students went back to school on May 4 while more children are scheduled to return on May 21 as lockdown eases.