Coronavirus: four patients, two staff at Nicosia cardio ward test positive

Four patients and two health professionals at the Nicosia general hospital’s cardiological ward, including a fully vaccinated doctor, had tested positive for coronavirus, it was confirmed on Tuesday, as health authorities were still trying to convince doctors and nurses to vaccinate.

A spokesman for the government health services organisation (Okypy) confirmed recent media reports that four patients and two health professionals, including a doctor, had tested positive, all in Nicosia general hospital’s cardiological ward.

Charalambos Charilaou, however, said it did not mean the transmission took place in hospital despite the patients all testing negative after undergoing PCR tests before admission.

“It doesn’t mean they were infected by the doctor who had been vaccinated with two doses,” since January, Charilaou said.

The Okypy spokesman said there have been cases when vaccinated individuals fell ill with the virus, adding that the vaccine prevented serious illness and hospitalisation.

Okypy has been struggling to convince health professionals to vaccinate against Covid, with the biggest problem being the nurses.

Charilaou said over 75 per cent of doctors have received the jab compared with 45 per cent of nurses.

The spokesman could not say what the reasons were but stressed that vaccinating against Covid was a must for health professionals.

“We must all realise that we have professional responsibility towards patients and society,” he said. “We must all, all health professionals, vaccinate despite it not being mandatory.”

Charilaou said he did not know if some did it deliberately to avoid working in Covid wards, but it did appear that certain professionals may be exploiting situation.

“You cannot have a health professional being identified as a close contact two or three times and staying home in mandatory isolation without vaccinating,” he said.

“All these are of concern to us. They are very sensitive issues that we discuss with unions.”