Cyprus is reliving moments of last March, as the Government prepares to announce measures in order to stem a new outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic on the island.
Yesterday, 10 new cases of coronavirus were recorded, of which 6, resulted from only 280 samples taken through random sampling conducted in Limassol.
The event inevitably alerted the competent authorities, which are now following the developments with bated breath, as in parallel with the increase of cases we returned to the admission of patients to hospitals and at the same time last week the virus transmissibility index increased significantly and for three for about months it was at low levels, now it has exceeded 1: 1 and now ranges from 1,2 to 1,3. That is, each 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 about the new data and it is very likely that from now on the use of a mask indoors, such as supermarkets, shopping malls and offices will be mandatory for everyone.
"We are concerned about the situation. The complacency brought an increase of cases ", was the statement of the Minister of Health Konstantinos Ioannou after the extraordinary meeting he held with members of the scientific committee. He even informed that "some additional measures" were discussed during the meeting, without revealing them.
However, information from "Φ" states that during yesterday's meeting at the Ministry of Health, suggestions were adopted for:
Mandatory use of a mask by everyone.
Increase in sampling at airports to 1.000 per day.
Repeat strict recommendations in hospitals (public and private) and in 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, the possibility of giving the names of these persons to the Police is being seriously studied, who will be called to carry out surprise checks at their homes (or where as a place of residence) to ensure that they do not circulate unchecked in the Community.
A suggestion was also recorded according to which the Police should check 10% of all these people every day.
What was said during the meeting of the Minister of Health with the scientists, is expected to be conveyed today to the President of the Republic so that the Government can then take its final decisions.
"What we have been emphasizing since the beginning of the pandemic, and especially after the relaxation of the measures, is that there should be no complacency. Unfortunately there is a complacency in the Community from all of us and this has led to an increase in cases. I believe that with the measures we have taken, if they are observed, the situation can be controlled and will be controlled ", said the Minister of Health and added:" The general impression is that if there is compliance with the existing measures and very simple measures of self-protection, social distancing and the health protocols we have issued - which are over 90 for all sectors of the economy - if they are complied with, and to make sure they are complied with I have asked the Ministry of Justice and other relevant Ministries to make controls even more intense and This has already started to be done by the Health Officers of the Ministry of Health, I believe that we can deal with it ".
The epidemiological data have changed
As expected, the increase in the number of confirmed cases in the last ten days, as well as the origin of these cases, 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 are indications of its transmission to the community," said Professor Irini Christaki to KYPE, adding that "the attention of all of us should be increased. on the observance of hygienic measures, the maintenance of distances, the use of masks indoors and the maintenance of health protocols by companies ".
Asked if there are cases in other areas besides Limassol, Ms. Christaki said that "there are some cases in Nicosia, but at the moment all contacts are being tracked to determine the exact transmission networks." However, he said, "it should not be considered that only Limassol has a problem, only Nicosia has a problem, but residents of other areas should not be complacent and careful in observing 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 can not risk the health of the general population, who all this time behaved responsibly" and pointed out that "all people who come to Cyprus and must limit themselves, based on their country of origin "They must be informed in advance that if they are found to be in breach of isolation they will be prosecuted."
The reference hospital reopened
After several weeks in which no public carriers of the virus were hospitalized in the public hospitals and the coronavirus reference hospital or the number of patients was too small and the duration of their treatment was minimal, in the last two days the data began to change. .
Yesterday, until 3:00 pm at the reference hospital, Famagusta hospital, a total of 5 people were treated, one of them in the Intensive Care Unit, while another patient was treated in a ward at the Nicosia General Hospital. It is important to note that a significant proportion of cases detected involve people who have symptoms and are being screened on their own initiative.
Answering a question, Professor Irini Christaki stated that "we have some admissions to hospitals. "And because we have always used admissions 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 observance of the measures that we keep saying, keeping distance, using a mask indoors, hand hygiene, observance of health protocols".
Remarking if this is her message to the world so that this complacency does not exist and the measures are observed, Ms. Christaki said "exactly, because this will be our new reality for the coming Autumn". So, "we must be well prepared and on alert, because the coronavirus will not disappear. "He will stay with us next winter for sure," he concluded.
51% result of domestic transmission
The cases of the last days cause ups and downs in the epidemiological picture of Cyprus. In fact, the transmissibility index in the last week showed a significant increase and now ranges between 0,95 and 1,3 while the percentage of domestic infections reached 51%, after the 72 total cases recorded between June 29 and July 29, 37 were cases of domestic transmission of the coronavirus (35 cases had a history of travel).
It is also important that there is an increase in the number of people who test positive for the coronavirus and then develop symptoms and need to be admitted for treatment. According to the official data released yesterday by the Ministry of Health, from June 25 to July 17, one or no patient with coronavirus was hospitalized. An introduction was made on July 17th. Until July 28, 4 patients were treated and yesterday, July 30, the number of patients reached 6, one of whom was in the Intensive Care Unit of Famagusta Hospital.
Given the fact that the number of hospital admissions is one of the key indicators used to analyze the epidemiological picture, the six patients mentioned yesterday are of particular concern.
The age of the people who tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 30 days is also interesting. According to epidemiological data, the median age of cases generally during the last month was 32 years since the 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 that were domestic infections was 37 years, since the ages of the affected individuals ranged from 29-46 years.
Regarding the coronavirus epidemic from the day of the first case last March, the official data show that:
Clinical information is available for 98,4% of which 35,4% did not report any symptoms at diagnosis and 64,6% reported at least one symptom.
Until July 28, the cumulative impact of 14 days COVID-19 (per 100.000 inhabitants), a measure that reflects the percentage of active cases COVID-19 in the population (prevalence of active disease) was 4,8 per 100.000.
In all cases COVID-19, 52% concern men and 48% women.
The median age of the cases is 43 years.
By age groups: 69 infants, children and adolescents up to 17 years (6,4%), 762 adults aged 18-59 years (71,5%) and 235 people aged 60 years and over (22,1%).
The exposure method is available for 921 cases (86,4%).
Of these cases, 22,7% had a recent travel history or stayed abroad for the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
Domestic transmission was recorded in 77,3% of cases.
41% concerned Limassol
Of the cases recorded in the last 30 days, 41% concerned Limassol, which despite the escalation recorded still has a small number of cases compared to the rest of Cyprus. Analytically, out of the 72 total cases of the last month, 30 or 41% concerned people living in Limassol. Of these, 5 people had a travel history and 25 (83%) were domestic broadcasters. It is reported that 8 of the 10 cases announced yesterday by the Ministry of Health concerned Limassol and specifically people who do not have a travel history, but showed symptoms and were examined on a private initiative and asymptomatic people who participated voluntarily in the sampling program of the ministry Health.
Source: Philenews