The virus is still very much in the community, meaning people need to strictly adhere to the measures issued by the health ministry, the director of the Famagusta general hospital Amalia Hadjiyianni said on Tuesday.

And spokesman for the state health services (Okypy) Charalambos Charilaou said that there has been an increase in the number of Covid-19 patients admitted to public hospitals in the last few days, and especially since April 1, adding that the situation is still manageable.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Hadjiyianni described the lower average age of hospitalised people compared to recent months, as a very positive development.

“This means that vaccinations are working properly, as they are protecting elderly people from contracting the virus,” she said.

“Combined with rapid tests, vaccinations help us keep Covid-19 at bay. They are essential tools for the population at the moment.”

Hadjiyianni said that the average age of hospitalised people at the Famagusta hospital, the reference hospital for coronavirus in Cyprus, currently stands at 61. The youngest patient is 31 years-old and the oldest is a 90-year-old woman who was not vaccinated.

Regarding the recent relaxations of measures in Cyprus and the rest of the world, she said she understands people’s restlessness after a year of uncertainty.

“Nevertheless, we must stand firm and understand that keeping distances, wearing a mask and limiting contacts are very important weapons against the virus.”

Hadjiyianni added that the rising temperatures in the upcoming months might lead to a general decrease in the number of cases in Cyprus, just like last summer.

“We really do hope for a decrease in the number of cases, so that everyone working in hospitals can take a well-deserved breather.”

Also speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Charilaou said that the number of Covid-19 patients in state hospitals had reached 210 before edging down to 196 by yesterday, of whom 28 in intensive care units and another 19 patients in high dependency units.

However, he added that the number of patients in the intensive care units remains stable and that the hospitalisation time of people currently in hospital, whose average age is lower than a few months ago, is shorter.

Charilaou concluded saying that the situation as manageable, noting that there is a plan in place and is evaluated daily and that all state hospitals have now opened Covid-19 wards.