COVID19: Cyprus reports zero cases, but will it last

Cyprus reported zero new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday as it lifted more lockdown restrictions and opened its airports.

The zero cases came from an unusually low number of tests as just 422 tests were conducted due to the holiday period.

The total number of SARS-CoV-2 infections remains at 970 – after six cases on Monday – and 18 deaths.

Cyprus reported zero cases for a fifth time, although it has been unable to keep numbers at zero for a second consecutive day since the outbreak began in March.

The Health Ministry announcement came as the country’s two main airports at Larnaca and Paphos reopen to normal passenger traffic in an effort to restart the tourist season.

Hotels and the leisure sector have been preparing for the arrival of tourists during what should be the peak holiday season.

Shopping malls and department stores also reopened on Tuesday, while cafes and restaurants were allowed to seat customers indoors.

Commenting on the low number of tests, sources close to the Health Ministry attributed it to a slow down in testing due to Monday’s holiday.

Out of the 422 negative tests, 154 were from hospital labs, 186 tests conducted on private initiative, 47 samples tested on referrals from GPs and 35 were part of tracing contacts of already confirmed cases.

Two patients are still hospitalized at the reference hospital Famagusta General after one patient was discharged on Tuesday.

Two patients are being treated at the Intensive Care Unit of Nicosia General Hospital, with one of them on a ventilator.