Filenews 3 December 2020 - by Marilena Panagi
Numbers are steadily up at all levels. Yesterday, the names of three other people were added to the pandemic's death list, with the total number reaching 52, while the health ministry announced 292 new cases resulting from just 3,027 molecular tests, with 280 being domestic infections. At the same time, a further 108 positive results were announced from rapid diagnostic tests carried out on a pancyprian scale, including eight new positive results in nursing homes. The seven even concerned a single nursing home in Limassol province.
Elevated, mainly in the provinces of Larnaca and Famagusta and the rate of "positivity", i.e. the ratio of positive results and number of rapid diagnostic checks carried out in the previous 15 days. With the safety limit set at 1%, Larnaca recorded 2.48% and Famagusta 2.83% while this index on a pancyprian scale reached 1.72%.
It should be noted, of course, that for the purposes of calculating the 'positivity' rate, the proportion of confirmed cases and the number of molecular tests from which they arose shall be taken into account for the purposes of official recording.
The health minister's message, posted on social media, goes on to say: "We are faced with a situation that is constantly changing and we are adapting our planning according to the data. The EU is linking its strategy for the holidays with measures to protect citizens. This Christmas is our health."
The minister's post was added to the warnings of scientists who yesterday and following the announcement of 318 cases on Tuesday night stressed that the relaxation of measures during the holidays would depend on epidemiological indicators.
Of course, any decisions taken at political level and the Government at the end of next week will once again be asked to decide whether to proceed normally with its plans to relax the restrictions currently in force, or to revise what was announced last week.
The eyes of scientists are now clearly focused on the Intensive Care Units, since all other epidemiological indicators are still at levels beyond safety limits.
However, the results of yesterday's rapid diagnosis checks confirm the data of the previous ten days on the increase that appears to be recorded in the provinces of Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta.
A total of 6,060 tests were carried out yesterday using the rapid diagnosis method, resulting in 108 positive results:
In nicosia province, 56 positive results were found. 36 were the result of checks carried out at two points in the Strovolos region, 14 positive results were obtained from 683 checks in the aglantzia area and 15 positive results from 451 audits in the Lakatamia region.
Nine positive results were recorded in Limassol province. Eight of 112 checks on nursing homes and other structures and one of checks carried out in the Mesa Neighbourhood area.
In larnaca province, 33 positive results were obtained from checks carried out in two parts of the city.
Five positive results were recorded in Paphos province. Three resulted from 350 checks carried out in the Municipality of Pegia and the other two resulted from 282 checks carried out in the centre of Paphos.
In National Guard camps, 515 checks were carried out with two positive results.
In public and private hospitals, 146 checks were carried out without a positive result.
In the public and wider public sector and local government, 365 audits were carried out with two positive results.
Conclusions from rapid-tests
From 16 November to 1 December a total of 83,095 rapid diagnostic checks were carried out on a worldwide scale, resulting in 1,438 positive results. In other words, the positivity rate reached 1.72% (with the safety limit set at 1%).
In all provinces, however, the positivity rate reached 1.96% after a total of 69,387 checks were carried out, resulting in 1,361 positive results.
In the province of Nicosia the positivity rate reached 1.80% (31,385 checks with 566 positive results).
In Limassol province the positivity rate was 1.86% (13,944 checks with 258 positive results).
In Larnaca province the positivity rate was 2.48% (13,539 checks with 335 positive results).
In Paphos province the positivity rate was 1.14% (5,640 checks with 64 positive results).
In Famagusta province the positivity rate was 2.83% (4,879 checks with 138 positive results).
In the same period, 1,662 checks were carried out with 24 positive results and a positivity rate of 1.5%.
The death toll has reached 52.
Three other people were added to the list of deaths caused by the pandemic yesterday. This is an 83-year-old woman who was being treated in the Limassol hospital, a 62-year-old who was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the Nicosia hospital and an 84-year-old who was being treated at Famagusta Hospital after being transferred from melathron fighters EOKA. A second patient with a coronavirus died yesterday at Famagusta Hospital, but his death is not attributed to the virus and is therefore not on the list of pandemic deaths.
A total of 124 patients were hospitalized yesterday:
In the ICU of the Nicosia hospital, 14 people were hospitalized (two off the ventilator).
Four patients were treated in the Increased Care Unit of Famagusta Hospital.
In the Nicosia hospital,in a ward, 10 patients were hospitalized.
At Famagusta Hospital, 60 patients were in a ward.
24 patients were being treated at the Limassol hospital.
Seven patients were hospitalized at Macquarie Hospital.
Five patients were being treated at Athalassa Hospital.
