"By July, the situation with the coronavirus will be reduced and it is expected that" we will be almost clean of the virus, but then we will have to be vigilant for its re-entry through the gates of entry into the Republic of Cyprus, "the Professor of Microbiology told KYPE. -Molecular Virology of the Medical School of the University of Nicosia Petros Karagiannis.
This, he explained, is what is happening in China right now, which is announcing almost zero cases and zero deaths every day that passes and what they fear now is the readmission of the virus from other countries.
"We must avoid this," he said.
The British, he continued, believe that the situation will continue until June next year, if the models they use are correct, noting that he has doubts about it.
"The situation is very difficult to determine from now on, it depends on how our cases will develop. We hope that with the measures that have been taken, in the next two months we will start to see a decline. Maybe if we do not have too many cases, we will be able to say that after a month we will be clean. "I predict that if all goes well, we will not have too high a number of cases, by mid-May the situation will be clarified," he said.
For England, he said, if things are left unchecked as they plan to do, then they will have a problem there and of course we will have a problem because there will be a risk of re-admission of the virus, if we relax the measures
"In the meantime, we can relax the measures and keep the measures concerning the entrance gates to the country," he noted.
Regarding how long the situation with the coronavirus will continue, Professor Karagiannis clarified that there is a difference of opinion, because it is a new virus and there is no experience of this virus in the past.
"I hope that with the rise in temperature, at least in warm countries, transmission will not be so easy and therefore cases will be reduced to a significant number, but in the northern and coldest countries of Europe it can continue in the summer," he added.
On the other hand, he clarified, it can disappear, as SARS disappeared in 2004, as soon as summer enters.
An increase in cases is expected, the situation is under control
According to Professor Karagiannis, the increase in cases in Cyprus will continue in the coming days.
"I estimate that yes, the increase in incidents will continue. This will depend on how quickly we detected the first cases, that is, before they had a chance to spread to others. "If they transmitted it to others who have not been detected, even if those others become ill until we detect them, things may go away a bit," he said.
With the rapid pace of tracking and direct contact with cases and their contacts, he explained, it may have helped us reduce chain transmission.
"So far we have a transmission of cases in their first contacts. We have not yet seen transmission from one contact to another and that is encouraging. The situation is currently under control. "The measures we have taken - which listened to the suggestions of scientists, which we had made in recent days - to reduce travel, not to accept people from countries with health certificates, this will at least limit the admission of further cases on the island," he said.
In good health the positive cases, only that of Paphos Intensive in serious condition
As Professor Karagiannis said, apart from the patient of the Intensive Care Unit of Paphos Hospital, everyone else is doing very well in their health.
"We were informed by the Ministry of Health that at least two of the Famagusta incidents will be transferred due to the fact that there are no symptoms, to the houses in Troodos for a restriction for fifteen days until we make sure that she is completely healthy. "But a repeat test must be done, which is negative for the virus," he added.
Calmness and patience in the world
People, said Professor Karagiannis, must keep their composure, not panic and follow the instructions given two weeks ago by the Ministry of Health, and follow it.
He pointed out that the reasoning that some have, that it does not touch us, is wrong, he pointed out.
"Unnecessary travel must be avoided and people must follow all instructions for self-protection. "We will overcome the difficulties faster if we keep our composure and are patient", he added.