202 NEW CASES SATURDAY [10 of which still under investigation]

 Filenews 17 October 2020

The Ministry of Health informs that, according to an update received today by the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit from contracting laboratories, a total of 4,966 laboratory diagnoses identified 202 new cases of COVID-19 disease.

The 10 incidents are under investigation and more information will be provided when their tracing is complete.

The remaining 192 incidents investigated resulted as follows:

• Of 474 samples taken through the process of tracing contacts of already confirmed cases, 42 cases were identified.
• Of 1,894 samples taken through a private initiative, 126 cases were detected.
• Of 1,129 samples taken as part of a passenger and repatriated check, 2 cases were identified.
• Of 295 samples taken from the Microbiological Laboratories of the General Hospitals, 7 cases were identified.
• Of 288 samples taken as part of the referral programme by Personal Physicians and special teams control through the Public Health Clinics, 1 case was identified.
• From 1 sample taken as part of the migrant structure control programme, 1 case was identified.
• Of 306 samples taken as part of the laboratory testing programme carried out in villages of Larnaca and Famagusta Provinces, 8 cases were detected.
• Of 338 samples taken as part of a sample check carried out by the COP in Associations participating in its competitions, 4 cases were detected.
• Of 216 samples taken under the laboratory testing programme carried out in nursing homes and other structures, 1 case was identified.

In addition to samples taken as part of the control programme for pupils, teachers and school staff, 25 laboratory tests were completed, without the detection of a case.

Therefore, and on the basis of the data so far, the total number of cases amounts to 2,581.

In addition, 16 people tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus at Famagusta General Hospital. Another eight imports are expected today. In addition, two patients remain intubated in the Intensive Care Unit of nicosia General Hospital. Also, in the other hospitals are hospitalized in a COVID-19 ward two incidents in Nicosia and one in Paphos.

According to the Ministry of Health, it must be understood that, as long as the number of daily cases remains as high and as long as the tracing team is unable, due to the huge number of contacts indicated by each incident, to proceed in a timely manner to identify and isolate individuals, the risk of the virus being transmitted to elderly people or chronic patients is increasing sharply. This is combined with the increased number of people showing symptoms, but also the already increased number of patients in hospital (21) sounding the alarm. We are perhaps at the most critical point in the pandemic and any increase in imports will inevitably lead to the worst-case scenario and unfortunately we will start counting victims, which is certainly not desirable. It is recalled that on 15/10 five patients were hospitalized at the reference hospital, yesterday ten, while today the number is 16, while another three patients are in other hospitals and two people remain in the Intensive Care Unit. Another 8 imports are also expected this evening.

Source: Eyenews