Stability is recorded in the number of new cases of coronavirus, the Director of Medical Services of the Ministry of Health, Elisavet Constantinou, told KYPE, who said that according to official data, on average, about a thousand new cases are recorded per week.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, on the occasion of the new variant of the Eris coronavirus, which has already been identified in more than 50 countries, including Cyprus, Mrs. Constantinou spoke of a low-risk variant, explaining that the data to date which the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has communicated "are not of particular concern".
Asked to state whether there has been an increase in cases in recent weeks, the Director of Medical Services said that compared to previous weeks, there does not seem to be an increase.
"There is a stability in the number of cases," he said, "that is, on average it's about a thousand a week."
She said that an increase had been observed in July, however, she noted that for the week 4 to 10 August 2023 (latest data) a stability is observed, with about a thousand cases on average per week.
He clarified that with the end of the pandemic, the Ministry of Health no longer conducts random sample checks, however, he noted that it monitors some indicators and some numbers, so that it knows the trend.
According to Elisavet Constantinou, the Ministry of Health takes data from incidents that will be detected, after visiting hospitals or geriatrics, since in Cyprus she said the basic measures for vulnerable groups have been maintained, which is the use of a mask and the negative 72-hour rapid test in hospitals, nursing homes and closed structures.
The updated data will be released later today
It is noted that the updated data from the new sequencing of the positive samples is expected to be released this afternoon, concerning the week of August 11 to 17, 2023.
In relation to the four cases of the new variant of the Eris coronavirus, which have been detected in Cyprus, Mrs. Constantinou stated that it concerns 5% of the positive cases that exist for the Covid 19 in Cyprus.
Asked if there are reasons for concern for the Autumn, in view of the return of students to schools, Ms. Constantinou said that what has been observed in other countries is the rapid transmission of this strain, to note that this is expected to follow in Cyprus as well .
He explained that the ECDC "doesn't seem to be particularly concerned about this variant of Covid", adding that "so far the data shows that while it will prevail, that is to say it will be the strain that we will find most often among the positive cases, it does not seem but to change the clinical picture or to have a special burden on the clinical symptoms".
Meeting for decisions ahead of Autumn
When asked if the Ministry of Health has a management plan for a potential outbreak next Fall, the Director of Medical Services said that upon the return of all those in charge from the summer holidays, a meeting will be held and they will decide.
"We will have to consider and take into account all the facts before us. Of course, as soon as they come back from vacation, all the people in charge will meet and decide. At the moment there is no cause for concern," he said.
In addition, he said that the Ministry of Health will evaluate all the data before it, however, he added "the situation does not seem to inspire any particular concern".
In relation to the remaining viral infections, such as the Influenza virus, flu syndromes and RSV, Ms. Constantinou said that their activity is considered low according to official data.
Reduced number of new hospital admissions
In response to another question, he said that the number of new hospital admissions was down considerably compared to the previous week.
According to the official data in the week 4 to 10 August 2023 there were 28 new imports, while a week earlier there were 49 new imports.
Furthermore, admissions to Intensive Care Units during the week 4 to 10 August 2023 were zero.
Source: KYPE