NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES ANNOUNCED AS POSITIVE IN POLIS 'MISLEADING'

 Cyprus Mail 2 November 2020 - by Bejay Browne

Only one of the 13 cases of Covid-19 that were recently announced in the area of Polis Chrysochous is a new case, according to the local mayor, who called the latest figures misleading.

Following an apparent surge in coronavirus cases, free Covid-19 testing for 300 residents of Polis Chrysochous got underway at the municipality.

Meanwhile 13 positive cases had already recently been identified from a total of 300 tests carried out by the state.

The figure is misleading as most had already tested positive before, Giotis Papachristofi told the Cyprus Mail.

“Six were already confirmed from the football team and another six were students under 17 years old. None of them were supposed to come to the municipality for testing, they should have all stayed at home as they had already tested positive before,” he informed the Cyprus Mail.

The tests were arranged by the health ministry in collaboration with medical laboratory NIPD Genetics.

The municipality Facebook page stated that, only one person from each household was eligible for the examination and those under restriction or quarantine were not eligible to participate in the programme.

Despite that, 12 of the positive cases announced had already tested positive, he said.

“In fact, only one new case was detected and that is not a great number is it?” he said.

This mean there is no need for further testing of residents and workers in the Polis area he said, as only one new case was found.

The mayor noted that measures taken by the municipality include spraying of public places, such as toilets and other places, and these will continue.

“Since we had a number of positive cases, residents are taking the protocols seriously. People are wearing masks and limiting contacts with others and those that are positive are self-isolating at home. They are doing the right thing,” he said.