COVID19: Cyprus can’t keep cases at zero

For the fourth time, Cyprus was unable to keep its daily COVID-19 cases at zero for consecutive days with two more infections confirmed on Friday after reporting none 24 hours earlier.

The two positive coronavirus cases were a person who was recently repatriated to Cyprus and a case identified through private initiative, the Health Ministry announced Friday.

Cyprus reporting two more cases of COVID-19 takes the total since the outbreak in March to 960.

The two new COVID-19 cases were identified from a total of 1,836 tests.

The person who had been recently repatriated was identified from a total of 136 tests and the individual’s contacts have been traced and tested, while protocols have been activated for them to remain in isolation until they undergo another test.

The other case was traced from 295 tests carried out on private initiative.

In addition, the following tests were carried out, all with negative results.

• 226 tests on employees in hairdressing salons, barbers, and catering
• 802 tests on pupils, teachers, and other school staff
• 2 tests on retail and construction employees
• 188 tests carried out at hospital labs
• 46 tests from the program of referrals from GPs and checks of special groups through public health centres
• 141 tests on contacts of known cases

On Friday there were four Covid-19 patients at Famagusta General, the referral hospital for coronavirus. Another three patients remain intubated at the ICU of Nicosia General Hospital.