23 November 2020 - by Marilena Panagi
Another death and a new record in the number of hospitalized patients with coronavirus, after reaching 97, including two infants. 184 cases and 121 positive results through the rapid diagnostic test procedure.
The week that begins today is particularly critical, as the Government must take decisions again, with the scene this time being particularly explosive, because of the reactions caused by the measures announced ten days ago.
However, the numbers of positive results recorded daily on a pancyprian scale resulting from rapid diagnostic tests continue to give a clear picture that the dispersion of the coronavirus concerns all the provinces of free Cyprus. This is reinforced by the fact that, to date, all subjects who have tested positive for rapid-test have had the same effect in the molecular test they were subsequently subjected to.
Scientists have already received instructions from the health minister on Friday. Today they are expected to assess the data that emerged up to last night and prepare their suggestions on what the fate of the decrees that are now in force and expire on 30 November should be.
It is apparent from what members of the Scientific Advisory Committee said in their statements over the weekend that the information that brought the Government to think of small relaxes on the two main days of the festive period, namely 25 December and 1 January, seems to be correct. These relaxes will concern both the family gatherings for the festive table and the congregations.
Furthermore, the lifting of restrictions in the province of Paphos, which is geographically restricted, should be taken for granted, since the epidemiological picture of recent days has improved significantly.
As far as Limassol is concerned, the scene is not yet clear. While the epidemiological picture of the province is improving, the arthrological impact of coronavirus, i.e. the proportion of cases per 100,000 population, remains at dangerous levels. Of course, in the case of Limassol, there will probably be gradual easing, especially with regard to geographical restriction, since the experience of the previous days has shown that the number of citizens who are required to move for business or other reasons from Limassol to the other provinces and vice versa is quite large. The queues of hundreds of people formed this weekend at the sampling points prove the truth.
Scientists are expected to have their contributions ready by tomorrow and present them, in the first stage to Health Minister Konstantinos Ioannou. Within the week, and if this is required by the changes that will theoretically be made to the decrees that are now in force, the Council of Ministers will also meet again in order to decide on it.
With regard to the epidemiological picture of Cyprus, yesterday another death of an 87-year-old man was recorded, bringing the total number of deaths with the final cause of the coronavirus to 44.
Concern is now caused by the significant increase in the number of patients with coronavirus in need of hospitalization. Yesterday at Famagusta General Hospital, 64 people were hospitalized (including six in the Increased Care Unit). In addition, a total of nine patients were hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of the Nicosia General Hospital, three of them off-respirator. Two infants, two and ten months old, were treated in the Children's Intensive Care Unit of Makarios Hospital.
Another 12 people were treated in a ward of the Nicosia General Hospital and another 10 patients at the Limassol General Hospital.
Regarding the condition of the two infants, the director of the paediatric clinic, Abraham Elias, said that "both infants are insufferable" and pointed out that they are "hospitalized in the negative pressure chamber for isolation and safety purposes".
Yesterday, 187 cases of coronavirus were reported, resulting from 3,223 laboratory tests and are domestic infections.
Following the rapid diagnosis process, 121 positive results emerged yesterday from a total of 6,304 rapid-tests.
In the province of Nicosia, 2,946 citizens were audited and 70 positive results were obtained (18 resulted from the checks carried out in the Municipality of Lakatamia, 16 from the checks in the Municipality of Egomi and 9 in the community of Kakopetria)
In limassol province, 1,468 checks were carried out with 34 positive results (6 positive results were obtained from 368 audits carried out in the diocese community)
In the province of Larnaca, 1,573 citizens were examined and 9 positive results were obtained (6 concern the Municipality of Levivadia).
In Paphos province, 443 rapid diagnostic tests were carried out, with 5 positive results
In the free area of Famagusta, 415 checks were carried out in the Municipality of Deryneia, with 3 positive results.
It is reported that the total number of cases confirmed through molecular examination includes 56 involving people who had tested positive in the previous days in a rapid diagnosis test.
