MOBILE 'BOMBS' ASYMPTOMATIC

 Filenews 16 August 2020 -Marilena Panagi

The figures confirm the estimates of the Ministry of Health, which has been sounding the alarm for a few weeks now, stressing that the data show that the possibility of controlled transmission of coronavirus in the Community, if safety measures are not taken, is beyond doubt real. According to the updated epidemiological data, 38.2% of cases recorded in Cyprus show absolutely no symptoms, resulting in them circulating in the Community and unknowingly spreading the coronavirus to other citizens.

The anxiety of the authorities is greater for elderly people and people belonging to vulnerable groups, since at any time they could come into contact with an asymptomatic carrier of the coronavirus and become infected, with what this entails for their health and for their own lives.

With regard to the other data as they have been developed in recent weeks, official data also confirms the concerns of experts as 63% of the cases recorded in July constituted domestic transmissions.

As the Ministry of Health points out, it is clear that although the resurgence of the coronavirus was caused by imported cases, by Cypriots who returned from abroad, these individuals apparently did not take the necessary distancing measures and spread the virus to other people.

Furthermore, the data of the Ministry of Health which analyse the situation up to 11 August show that:

-12.4% of cases are "orphans". In other words, it was not possible to identify how the individuals were infected.

-Of the 1,119 known cases (until 11 August), only 23.6% had a recent travel history or stayed abroad during the 14 days prior to their diagnosis.

-Domestic transmission was recorded in 76.4% of cases

-As of 1 July, of the 280 recorded confirmed cases, 31% concerned cases with a recent travel history, while 63% concerned cases of domestic transmission.

-The majority of recent cases have been recorded in Limassol where 79% were domestic broadcasts.

-38.2% did not report any symptoms at diagnosis and 61.8% reported at least one symptom.

-The median age of COVID-19 cases is 41 years.  51.7% for men and 48.3% for women

-A total of 15.3% of COVID-19 cases received hospital care

-The median age of all hospitalized patients is 61.5 years

-A total of 878 (70.2%) people have recovered

As regards the transmission index of coronavirus, this on the basis of the updated calculations ranged from 11 August from 1: 0.65 to 1:1.2. However, the data may have diversified in the last 24 hours since new active covid transmission chains have been identified in the intervening days.

94 infants and children up to 17 years of age on the list of cases

Among the cases recorded so far in Cyprus are 94 children of all ages up to 17 years of age, while on a pancyprian basis the median age of covid cases in free areas is estimated at 41 years.

In particular, according to the updated epidemiological bulletin published yesterday by the Ministry of Health, among all COVID-19 cases, 51.7% are for men and 48.3% for women. The median age of cases is 41 years. By age groups: 94 infants, children and adolescents 0-17 years (7.4%), 927 adults aged 18-59 (72.5%) and 257 people aged 60 and over (20.1%)

As regards the geographical distribution of covid cases, as is apparent from the official figures, 431 (33.7%) had a place of residence in the province of Nicosia, 323 (25.3%) in Larnaca province, 219 (17.1%) in Limassol province, 178 (13.9%) in Paphos province, 67 (5.2%) in the free area of Famagusta and 60 incidents (4.7%) British bases or residence abroad or there was no information available for them. It is noted that 157 cases (12.3%) reported in Aradippou, municipality of Larnaca province. Cases in Aradippou, including a network at a local bakery production plant, are predominantly male (54.8%, n=86) and the median age is 42 years. Excluding this network, the cases are mainly women (55%, n=71) and the median age is 49 years.

Of the 1,278 cases known as of August 11, 15.6% were health workers. 3.2% are doctors, 7.8% nurses, 0.8% from other health professions and 3.8% auxiliary staff.

As of 11 August, 27 deaths were reported in Cyprus in cases with COVID-19 (Mortality: 2.1%). occurred in men and seven (26%) to women. The median age of people with COVID-19 who died is 76 years.

145 tests per 100,000 inhabitants

Until 11 August, COVID-19 diagnoses in Cyprus amount to 145.9 per 100,000 inhabitants

-relative mortality in 3.1 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

-Mortality (the death rate in diagnosed cases of the disease) is 2.1%.

-In Cyprus, 27,172.1 diagnostic tests have been carried out per 100,000 inhabitants.

It should be noted that the number of cases of disease, diagnostic tests and deaths for Cyprus include people from abroad and the British Bases, while the total population in the indicators does not include residents from abroad or the British Bases.