Coronavirus: Highest number of hospitalisations, with more to come (Updated)

Cyprus saw its highest number of Covid-19 hospitalisations since the outbreak earlier on Monday, while more admissions are expected in the upcoming days, the spokesperson of the state health services organisation (Okypy) Charalambos Charilaou said on Monday.

As of Monday morning, 214 Covid-19 patients were being treated at the hospitals nationwide which is the highest number recorded since the pandemic outbreak, Charilaou told the Cyprus Mail.

“The number is due to change as new admissions and discharge of patients are expected,” he said. By Monday night that figure had dropped to 199.

Deaths also affect the number, Charilaou said, which are inevitable at this stage of the pandemic. Five more deaths were announced on Monday night.

The spokesperson said the number of patients is expected to increase, despite the smaller numbers of daily cases traced recently, as those who test positive usually end up in the hospital after seven to 14 days.

“According to our calculations, hospitalisations for Covid will increase in the next two weeks, while we hope admissions will stabilise by the end of the month and to start seeing a decrease in February,” he added.

Sixty-eight patients were being treated in Famagusta reference hospital for coronavirus on Monday, including six in the high dependency unit. Another 59 asymptomatic patients were staying at the Eden resort in Tersephanou.

“On a daily average we have 55 to 60 patients who are critical nationwide,” Charilaou said.

The spokesperson said the current situation is manageable but highlighted the need to abide by the health safety protocols as to reduce the daily tally of cases.

“The health system has its limits,” Charilaou said.

Epidemiologists said over the weekend that the gradual relaxation of measures, expected to start at the end of the month, will depend on the number of people at the hospitals.

The country has been in lockdown since January 10, in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus and to relieve the hospitals.