Despite the stabilization of the number of cases a week or two ago, in the last few days there has been a gradual increase in the number to a degree that is worrying, because sooner or later with such numbers the number of hospitalizations and admissions to Intensive Care Units will increase. , said to KYPE the member of the Advisory Scientific Committee, Professor of Microbiology / Molecular Virology of the Medical School of the University of Nicosia, Dr. Petros Karagiannis, when asked about the increase observed in the number of cases and hospitalizations.
"It seems that at the moment the numbers that are in the Intensive Care Units and those who are hospitalized have increased to the highest number we have had so far. And this is the result of the cases we had about ten days ago. Therefore, from the time we went above 500, this will translate into a few days, 7 to 10 days, to an increased number of hospitalizations, so you realize that we can exceed 300 hospitalizations. "The Intensive Care Units will reach their limits", he added.
Answering a question as to why this increase is due, Mr. Karagiannis said that despite "the instructions and urgings from all of us, the people should be careful in their gatherings, in the workplace, to apply the self-protection measures, to observe the protocols "We stressed the existence of the mutated strain in Cyprus, which is even more contagious, however these instructions are being ignored lately, resulting in the epidemiological picture we have at the moment."
"If we are not careful sooner or later it will get worse, so instead of talking about relaxation of measures, we will probably be forced at some stage, if things do not improve, to talk about the introduction of measures," he said.
Asked if and when decisions are expected to be made for possible further relaxations, in view of Easter, Mr. Karagiannis said that the situation is so fluid that no one can say at the moment.
"I imagine some decisions will have to be made next week. So we still have a few days, but to be honest I do not see the situation improving significantly. "Let's hope that the best that can be done at the moment is to stabilize rather than make it worse and we will see."