63 NEW CASES, SUNDAY

 Filenews 18 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 3,688 laboratory diagnoses identified 63 new cases of COVID-19 disease.

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

The remaining 61 cases investigated resulted as follows:

• Of 380 samples taken through the process of tracing contacts of already confirmed cases, 22 cases were identified.
• Of 932 samples taken through a private initiative, 27 cases were identified.
• Of 1,249 samples taken as part of a passenger and repatriated check, 5 cases were identified.
• Of 220 samples taken from the Microbiological Laboratories of the General Hospitals, 4 cases were identified.
• Of 222 samples taken as part of the referral programme by Personal Physicians and special teams control through the Public Health Clinics, 1 case was identified.
• Of 318 samples taken as part of the laboratory testing programme carried out in villages of Larnaca and Famagusta Provinces, 1 case was identified.
• Of 253 samples taken as part of a sample check carried out by the COP on Associations participating in its competitions, 1 case was identified.

It should be noted that 1/3 of the laboratory tests carried out in the last 24 hours resulted from the sampling programme carried out at airports and from the passengers tested 5 tested positive for the virus. As a result, the remaining 57 cases resulted from approximately 2,300 tests carried out by the laboratories that operated today. It is also important to mention that yesterday and today the two largest private laboratories, which carry out sampling in Limassol Province, did not work.

Equally important is the fact that the 22 current incidents resulted from 380 samples carried out as part of the tracing. That is, 1 in 17 people who registered as contacts tested positive for the crown. This leads to the conclusion that there are active transmission chains and makes it imperative to pay attention and faithful adherence to the measures.

The picture with the hospitalized patients remains worrying, since 19 people are hospitalized, 2 of whom are rescued in an Intensive Care Unit.

In addition, the following laboratory tests were carried out, without the detection of a case:

• From samples taken as part of the control programme for pupils, teachers and school staff, 20 laboratory tests were completed,
• From samples taken under the laboratory testing programme carried out in nursing homes and other structures, 46 laboratory diagnoses were carried out, and
• From samples taken as part of the migrant structure control programme, 48 laboratory diagnoses were carried out.

Therefore, and on the basis of the data so far, the total number of cases amounts to 2,644.

In addition, 15 people tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus at Famagusta General Hospital. Seven discharges were given today and two imports were made. In addition, two patients are still being treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the Nicosia General Hospital. Also, in the other hospitals are hospitalized in a COVID-19 ward two incidents in Nicosia.