Filenews 27 March 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
In the prevalence of the British strain of coronavirus, there is probably the answer to the explosion of incidents and hospitalizations in Limassol province. This is apparent both from the official figures of the Ministry of Health, according to which at the end of February the proportion of British staff in Limassol accounted for 58% of cases, as well as from the findings of experts and especially people who are at the forefront of public hospitals and experienced from the very first moment the effects of the "surprise" increase in cases in that province.
"We probably have the last piece of the puzzle on the situation in Limassol, since although the data we have are preliminary, they suggest that it is not only a matter of the behaviour of the citizens in this province but also a question of the prevalence of the British strain which we know is 60% -70% more contagious and also, we know that it is transmitted much more easily to children" , the infectious engineer and member of the Scientific Advisory Committee, Costas Konstantinou, told "F".
When the relaxes began in February, Mr. Konstantinou explained, "we were definitely expecting an increase in incidents in general. What surprised us was the speed with which incidents in the Limassol province increased. But it now seems, and seeing the whole picture now before us, that what helped create this explosive situation was also the British strain which seems to have prevailed in this province."
In addition to the official data "and the information we have from the Ministry of Health, we see other parameters. We have the situation in schools in Limassol. Moreover, when we started to see such increased patient admissions from Limassol, we were trying to understand exactly what was going on, because the situation in this province did not match what we were seeing from the other provinces." This data, Continued Mr. Konstantinou, "referred us from the beginning to the British executive. With the evidence we have now, it looks like we found the piece of the puzzle we were missing."
Limassol, stressed Mr Konstantinos, "is of course still in a difficult situation, but we have also started to see a stabilisation in recent days from our hospitalizations".
Perhaps, he added, "the opening of the dining areas has worked properly, because a number of citizens have accepted the fact that they have outlets now, they can go somewhere and they realised that they have to work together to keep that."
At 95.5% the prevalence of B1.1.7
According to the latest official analysis of data from the Ministry of Health, "the English variant of the virus is showing an increasing prevalence".
Specific:
· Between December and January, the British mutation was detected at 14.7% (34 samples).
· From 1 to 15 February, the British mutation was detected at 46.6% (34 samples out of a total of 73 sequences).
· From 15 February to 6 March, the British mutation was detected at 95.5% (85 samples out of a total of 89 sequences).
With the epidemiological data in Limassol, the Ministry of Health carried out a more detailed analysis of data by province. This analysis showed that:
- For the period December - February, among the strains identified with the British mutation, 58% came from Limassol.
- In fact, 41% of all infections in the province identified with the British strain.
- According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health concerning the period up to and including 6 March, the prevalence rate of the British strain reached 91% with 44 of the 45 samples found, concerning the province of Limassol (one sample concerned the province of Paphos).
(This analysis concerns a relatively small sample number and the interpretation should be done with caution.
The image of Cyprus until 28 February
- In Limassol the percentage of the English strain was 58%.
- Nicosia at 20%.
- Larnaca at 1%.
- Paphos at 2%.
- Famagusta at 1%.
- For 18%, the province of origin was not known.
It is worth mentioning that in the last week, between December and January the rate of the British mutation was estimated at 0% (total of 18 samples). From 1 to 15 February, it was estimated at 31.25% and from 15 February to 6 March it reached 91%.
Encouraging data from hospitals
The situation in hospitals in recent days has started to show "a balance between admissions and discharges", Said Mr. Konstantinou adding that "we see that now the number of elderly people admitted for hospitalization is limited compared to the period December - January and most importantly, the elderly we see now have not been vaccinated". In other words, it is noted that 'vaccination reduces deaths by 100%, and we see this in our data and certainly greatly reduces heavy hospitalizations'. In addition, said Mr. Konstantinou, "in our hospitals we see elderly people who have not been vaccinated being admitted for hospitalization. We ask them why they have not been vaccinated and they tell us that they have "waited a while longer", to see how the vaccination would go or to obtain the vaccine they wanted, etc." "For God's sake, we must understand that, waiting for the vaccine of our choice, we may end up getting infected and need a hospital."
