Moments of last March Cyprus relives, as the Government prepares to announce measures to stem a new outbreak of the crown virus epidemic on the
The event inevitably alarmed the competent authorities, which are now keeping a close eye on developments, as in parallel with the increase in cases we have also returned to hospital admissions and at the same time in the last week the virus transmission index has increased significantly and while for about three months it has been at a low level, it has now exceeded 1:1 and now stands at 1.2 -1.3. That is, every person positive for the virus transmits the coronavirus to more than one person.
Scientists are going to the Presidential Palace today to inform the President of the Republic of the new data and it is very likely that from now on the use of masks in enclosed spaces, such as supermarkets, shopping malls and offices, will be mandatory for everyone.
"The situation worries us. Complacency has led to an increase in cases", was the statement of Health Minister Konstantinos Ioannou after his extraordinary meeting with members of the scientific committee. He even informed that "some additional measures" were discussed during the meeting, but did not disclose them.
Information from the "F" indicates, however, that at yesterday's meeting at the Ministry of Health, suggestions were adopted for:
Mandatory use of mask by everyone.
Increase the number of samples taken at airports to 1,000 per day.
Repeat strict recommendations to hospitals (public and private) and to owners/managers of nursing homes to limit visits.
Mandatory self-isolation of all persons arriving in Cyprus and coming from countries belonging to category C. In fact, serious consideration is given to the Police, which will be called upon to carry out sudden checks in their homes (or where they declare as a place of residence), in order to ensure that they do not move uncontrollably in the Community.
There was also a suggestion that the police should check 10% of all these people every day.
What was said at the Minister of Health's meeting with the scientists is expected to be transferred today to the President of the Republic so that the Government can then take its final decisions.
"What we have been stressing since the beginning of the pandemic, and especially after the relaxation of the measures, is that there should be no complacency. Unfortunately there is complacency in the Community from all of us and this has brought about an increase in cases. I believe that with the measures we have taken, if they are complied with, the situation can be checked and will be checked," said the Minister of Health, adding: "The general impression is that if the existing measures and the very simple measures of self-protection, social distancing and the health protocols that we have adopted - which are beyond 90 for all sectors of the economy - are complied with. , if these are complied with, and to make sure that they are respected I have asked the Ministry of Justice and the other relevant Ministries to make the checks even more intense and this has already started to be done by the Health Officers of the Ministry of Health, I think we can deal with it."
Changed epidemiological data
Unsurprisingly, the increase in the number of confirmed cases over the last ten days, as well as the origin of these cases, has alarmed scientists who are already seeing changes in epidemiological data.
"The recent increase in cases that has been observed gives a change in the epidemiological picture, and now, we can say that there is evidence of its transmission in the community," Professor Irene Christakis told the CYPE, adding that "we should increase everyone's attention on the observance of hygiene measures, the preservation of distances, the use of masks indoors and the maintenance of health protocols by businesses".
Asked if there are cases in areas other than Limassol, Ms Christakis said that "there are also some cases in Nicosia, but at the moment all contacts are being traced to verify exactly the transmission networks". But it should not, he said, "consider that only Limassol has a problem, only Nicosia has a problem, but residents of other areas should not be complacent and be careful in complying with the measures, because at the moment we know that the virus is circulating in more than one area".
For his part, Professor Petros Karagiannis stressed that "we cannot risk the health of the general population, who have behaved responsibly all this time" and indicated that "those individuals who come to Cyprus and must restrict themselves, based on their country of origin, should be informed in advance that if they are found to be in breach of solitary confinement they will be subject to criminal prosecution".
Reopen the reference hospital
After several weeks in which no patients were hospitalized in public hospitals and the reference hospital for the crown virus or the number of nurses was too short and the duration of their hospitalization was minimal, in the last two days the data began to change.
Yesterday, until 3:00 p.m. at the reference hospital, Famagusta Hospital, a total of 5 people were hospitalized, one of them in the Increased Care Unit, while another patient was being treated in a ward at the Nicosia General Hospital. It is important to mention the fact that a significant proportion of the cases identified concern people who show symptoms and are being examined on their own initiative.
In response to a question, Professor Irene Christakis said that "we have some hospital admissions. And because we have always used imports as an indicator of the spread of the disease, then, since there are hospital admissions, it means that the positive cases in the Community are more than we have already found.' For this, he added, "we need careful adherence to the measures we keep saying, keeping the distance, using masks indoors, hand hygiene, adherence to health protocols."
In observing whether this is her message to the world so that this complacency does not exist and that the measures are respected, Ms. Christakis said "exactly, because this will be our new reality and for the Fall that is coming to us". So, "we have to be well prepared and alert, because the crown will not disappear. He'll stay with us next winter for sure,' he concluded.
51% domestic transmission result
Ups and downs in the epidemiological picture of Cyprus are causing the outbreaks of the last few days. In fact, the communicability index has increased significantly in the last week and now stands at between 0.95 and 1.3 while the rate of domestic infections reached 51%, since of the 72 total cases recorded between 29 June and 29 July, 37 related to cases of domestic transmission of coronavirus (35 cases had a history of travel).
It is also important that an increase occurs in the number of people who are positively demonstrated in the crown and then develop symptoms and need to be admitted for hospitalization. According to official data released yesterday by the Ministry of Health, from 25 June to 17 July one or no patients with coronavirus were hospitalized in hospitals. An introduction had been made on 17 July. Until 28 July 4 patients were hospitalized and yesterday 30 July the number of nurses reached 6, of which one patient was in the Increased Care Unit of Famagusta Hospital.
Given the fact that the number of hospital admissions is one of the main indicators used to analyse the epidemiological picture, the six patients mentioned yesterday are of particular concern.
The age of people who tested positive for the crown in the last 30 days is also interesting. According to epidemiological data, the median age of cases in general in the last month was 32 years after individuals belonged to the age group of 24 - 41.5 years. The median age of cases with a travel history was 28 years (age group 24 - 33 years) and the median age of cases of domestic infections was 37 years, since the ages of the affected individuals ranged from 29 to 46 years.
With regard to the coronavirus epidemic since the day of the first outbreak last March, official data show that:
Clinical information is available for 98.4% of whom 35.4% did not report any symptoms at diagnosis and 64.6% reported at least one symptom.
Until 28 July, the cumulative incidence of 14 days of COVID-19 (per 100,000 inhabitants), a measure reflecting the rate of active cases of COVID-19 in the population (prevalence of active disease), was 4.8 per 100,000.
Among all COVID-19 cases, 52% are for men and 48% for women.
The median age of cases is 43 years.
By age groups: 69 infants, children and adolescents up to 17 years of age (6.4%), 762 adults aged 18-59 (71.5%) and 235 people aged 60 and over (22.1%).
Exposure mode is available for 921 cases (86.4%).
Of these cases, 22.7% had a recent travel history or stayed abroad during the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
Domestic transmission was recorded in 77.3% of cases.
41% related to Limassol
Of the cases recorded in the last 30 days, 41% concerned Limassol, but despite the outbreak recorded it still has a small number of cases compared to the rest of Cyprus. In detail, of the 72 total cases in the last month, 30 or 41% concerned persons residing in Limassol. Of these, 5 people had a travel history and 25 (83%) had a travel history. domestic transmissions. It is reported that 8 out of 10 cases announced yesterday by the Ministry of Health concerned Limassol and specific people who do not have a travel history, but have experienced symptoms and have underwent a private initiative examination and asymptomatic individuals who voluntarily participated in the Sampling Programme of the Ministry of Health.
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