Coronavirus: Cluster of 20 positive cases in handball team (updated)

Twenty people in a first division handball team in Cyprus have tested positive for coronavirus, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Wednesday.

According to the agency, the positive cases involve players and staff alike.

Health ministry spokesperson Margarita Kyriacou confirmed the report, although the name of the team has not been released.

“It is clear that the team’s players and staff did not respect the measures in place against Covid-19 and that no one supervised the situation,” Kyriacos told TV channel Ant1.

“What happened at the handball team is of great concern to the health ministry, which is now more hesitant in easing restrictions for sport activities.

“A similar cluster reminds us of what happened a few months ago within certain football teams,” Kyriacou added.

Last year a high number of positive cases was recorded among players and staff members of Nea Salamina and Ethnikos Achas football teams, prompting the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) to consider suspending the championship.

The sheer number of positive cases, recorded among the two football teams, which involved as many as 40 people combined among players and staff, was a big shock for Cyprus after of period that saw a gradual decrease in the number of people testing positive to the virus.