Cyprus coronavirus transmission rate (R0) has declined even further to 0.65 per infected person, according to the latest epidemiological data released by the Ministry of Health.
According to data, updated on 2 June, three methods used by scientists indicate a decline in the virus’ reproduction number – how many a person can infect – as the median value of the (R0) has dropped.
R0 indicates the average number of people who will contract a contagious disease from one person with that disease.
It specifically applies to a population who were previously free of infection and haven’t been vaccinated.
At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a person infected with coronavirus could transmit it to four or five others on average, making it highly contagious.
For Cyprus to ease lockdown measure the reproduction number had to be below one and stay there.
The first model of transmission shows a decrease from 0.8 to 0.71, while a second method indicated a drop from 0.71 to 0.69 and for the third method from 0.87 to 0.65.
Another two showed a transmission rate of 0.65 and a fifth of 0.76.
The upper end of the modules is between 1.10 and 1.35.
A high percentage of people who have contracted COVID-19 is now virus-free.
As of June 2, 84.1% of cases reported, that is 801 out of 952, have recovered.
Some 712 (74.8%) had a negative result in one of two tests conducted after they were first tested positive, while 89 (9.4%) had to wait 21 days before getting the all-clear.
COVID-19 diagnoses in Cyprus amounted to 108.7 for every 100,000 inhabitants and the relative mortality rate was at 2.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Mortality (death rate in diagnosed cases) is 2.5%.
Cyprus has performed some 13,734.2 tests per 100,000 inhabitants, significantly more than Italy’s 6,557 and UK’s 6,941.
The median age of cases is 45 years (IQR: 31-59 years).
By age groups, cases included 61 infants, children and adolescents aged 0-17 (6.4%), 662 adults aged 18-59 (69.5%), and 229 persons aged 60 or older (24.1%)
Among all cases, 369 (38.8%) were reported in the Nicosia district, 245 (25.8%) in Larnaca, 161 (16.9%) in Paphos, 110 (11.6%) in Limassol, 44 (4.6%) in Famagusta, and 23 (2.4%) were reported either in the British bases or had a residence abroad.
Notably, 126 cases (13.2%) were reported in Aradippou, a municipality in the Larnaca district.
Clinical Features
Of the 952 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, clinical information is available for 98.5% of cases, of which 33.2% reported no symptoms whatsoever, and 66, 8% reported at least one symptom.
The most common symptoms are:
- fever (33.8%),
- cough (32.1%),
- myalgia (21.8%),
- sore throat (17.1%)
- anosmia (13%)
- difficulty breathing (11.8%).
Other reported symptoms include runny nose, diarrhoea, and headaches.
Underlying diseases
Data on underlying diseases in individuals with COVID-19 was available for 843 (88.6%) cases. Of these, 340 (40.3%) reported at least one underlying disease.
The most common underlying diseases were:
- hypertension (15.6%),
- diabetes (8.9%),
- heart disease (7.9%)
- malignancies (3%).
Other reported underlying health problems included chronic kidney failure, autoimmune diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Deaths
As of June 2, 24 deaths in Cyprus have been reported in COVID-19 cases (Mortality rate: 2.5%). The COVID-19 mortality per 100,000 population is 2.7.
Seventeen deaths (70.8%) involved men and seven (29.2%) women.
Under a method used by health services, just 17 deaths were directly attributed to COVID-19 (COVID-19 CFR: 1.8%).
The median age of patients with COVID-19 who died is 76 years.
Nine deaths were reported in the Larnaca district and seven in the Paphos district, three in Nicosia and Famagusta and two in Limassol.
