COVID19: Cyprus cases double but still in single digits

Cyprus has contained the coronavirus outbreak but the number of confirmed cases doubled on Wednesday to six from three the previous day, the Health Ministry announced.

The six new cases of COVID-19 were identified from 2,982 tests taking total infections to 958 since March.

Two of the cases – a student and member of a school board were located from 1,204 tests carried out at schools and their staff.

The two cases were from high schools in the Larnaca district.

Another two involved a nurse and a patient at Nicosia General from 217 hospital lab tests.

One more case was identified from 222 private initiative tests and the sixth was a patient tested before being admitted to hospital.

No cases were found among 491 tests sponsored by the government for employees at hair salons, barbershops, restaurants, tattoo and beauty parlours.

Health authorities also carried out 478 tests on people who were recently repatriated and tracing 121 contacts of known cases. All tests came back negative.

On Wednesday there were three Covid-19 patients being treated at Famagusta General, the referral hospital for coronavirus.

Another three patients remain intubated at the ICU of Nicosia General Hospital.