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Coronavirus: British variant found in all latest samples sent to ECDC, authorities concerned (Updated)

Υπουργός Υγείας – Τελετή παράδοση
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou

Authorities are deeply concerned over the fact that the more infectious coronavirus variant first identified in Britain was detected in all 45 samples sent from Cyprus to the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said on Thursday.

Ioannou said they had been informed on Wednesday that all 45 samples were found to be of the B.1.1.7 variant, which is said to be 70 per cent more infectious than variants detected earlier in the pandemic.

“This is of special concern to us because the sample might be small, but when all 45 samples were found to be of the British variant, it shows there is wide dispersal of the British variant in the community,” Ioannou said, adding that it would explain the rise in transmissibility.

In December, he said, hospitals saw the same number of admissions it had in a week now.

“We must be even more careful in our contacts and even more careful in following personal protection measures because it is exceptionally dangerous.”

The minister reiterated that state hospitals had raised their capacity to treat Covid patients from 250 to 400 beds but sought to lay to rest critics questioning why it cannot be extended further.

“The reason, and I want to make it crystal clear, is not an issue of equipment or consumables, the preventive factor is human resources. Not just nurses but also doctors of various specialisations,” he said. “Not just the human resources in Okypy (state health services organisation) but across Cyprus, across the entire health system.”

Ioannou said similar problems were faced in other countries and that was why they were in lockdowns.

The government is referring non-Covid cases to the private sector in a bid to decongest state hospitals. Private sector doctors are also being utilised in Covid clinics.

The minister said there has been a rise of seven to eight hospitalisations per day and continuing at the same rate would bring the system to its limits.

“We can certainly provide a service, but we will not be able to have the same quality and let us not forget there are other ailments.”

The recent decision to reopen the hospitalist sector took into account the pandemic fatigue felt by people on one hand to boost morale but also to stabilise the number of cases “which we cannot see happening at present and this concerns us.”

Ioannou said the measures were being reviewed daily and when necessary they are either stepped up or eased.

To fully lift the measures would take the inoculation around 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the population, he added.

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