Coronavirus: Numbers have stabilised but still very high

Though numbers of coronavirus cases have stabilised over the past 14 days, Cyprus continues to record very high levels, according to the national surveillance report published on Friday.

In the 14 days, between March 10 and 23, a total of 5,093 cases were diagnosed. The 14-day cumulative diagnosis rate for that period, a measure which reflects the number of active Covid-19 cases in the population, was 573.5 per 100,000 population.

According to the health ministry, though there is a stabilisation of the 14-day cumulative, it remains at very high levels for the whole of Cyprus, and compared to 529.6 / 100,000 in the previous period. In the Limassol district the cumulative effect also shows signs of stabilisation, but again at extremely high levels, the ministry said (1,130.1 / 100,000). Limassol recorded a small drop in the positivity rate, to 1 per cent from 1.3 per cent last week, the health ministry said.

The report, prepared by the health ministry’s epidemiological surveillance unit, said the median age of the 5,093 cases in the reporting period was 36 years.

“The positivity rate in rapid tests performed in nursing homes remains at an extremely low rate and this is registered as very positive,” the health ministry said. According to the hospitalisation data, there are no more admissions of patients from nursing homes.

There is still a significant burden as regards hospitalisations but with some signs of stabilisation. The median age of patients as of March 24, was 62. In total 58.8 per cent of the patients were men and 63.1 per cent were people from the Limassol district. According to the report, 63.5 per cent of people still hospitalised have comorbidities.

The median age of patients currently in intensive care units is 68 with most of them, 84.6 per cent, with pre-existing conditions.

Among the 5,093 cases diagnosed since March 10, 51.2 per cent were females and 48.8 per cent males. By age group, cases included 1,048 infants, children and adolescents aged 0-19 years-old, 3,286 adults aged 20-59 years, 754 persons aged 60 years and older, while information is not currently available for five cases.

Almost one third, 30.3 per cent (1,542 people) reported no symptoms at diagnosis while the rest reported at least one symptom. Almost one in four (1,234 cases) reported at least one comorbidity (pre-existing condition).

Among all cases diagnosed in the last 14 days, 2,806 (55.1 per cent) were reported in the Limassol district, 1,238 in Nicosia, 489 in Larnaca, 308 in Paphos, and 176 in the Famagusta district. Another 76 were reported either in the British bases or had a residence abroad, or information was not available.