Coronavirus: 30 new beds at Larnaca Hospital, plans for Paphos general

Preparations are underway to set aside beds for the treatment of coronavirus patients at Paphos general hospital, state health services organisation Okypy spokesman Charalambos Charilaou said on Monday.

Once Larnaca starts receiving Covid patients early this week, Okypy will focus on Paphos, he explained.

In Larnaca 30 beds will initially be used for the purpose, with the option to add another 28 in future, and 30 more are planned for Paphos.

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases that have put pressure on public hospitals, state health services have scrambled into action to create additional capacity.

Initially, the state health services had 200 beds set aside for coronavirus at the Famagusta, Nicosia and Limassol Hospitals, but these have filled up, obliging them to make additional room in Larnaca and Paphos.

“We will visit the state hospital of Paphos in order to see the space that has been pointed out and to talk together with the directorate of the general hospital of Paphos about staffing,” Charilaou said.  “Our goal is to prepare about thirty beds to be used if and when needed.”

According to Charilaou, some areas have been suggested and the organisation will check on the spot to see if they are suitable and meet all specifications to ensure staff is safe.

To make certain there is enough staff on duty, other services of the hospital will be reduced, he added.

“In any case, the Paphos general hospital has received additional assistance from the newly hired nurses in recent months.”

In the meantime, vaccinations are continuing and gradually all staff at public hospitals will be covered.

“We are proceeding with the vaccinations without any delays,” the spokesman concluded.