Coronavirus: Positivity rate dramatically drops, all indicators show improvement (updated)

Cyprus’ positivity rate has dramatically reduced from about 1.2 per cent to 0.2 per cent, the weekly national report showed on Friday, and according to the health ministry that is due to a combination of lockdowns and vaccinations.

The ministry’s analysis of the data covers the two weeks up until May 11.

Across the board, the main epidemiological points of concern show improvement – such as the lower 14-day cumulative diagnosis rate, which now stands at 689 per 100,000, compared to 1,034 per 100,000 previously.

Compared to last week’s report, there were about a third fewer cases recorded (6,121 compared to 9,186).

But the new data means that Cyprus remains in the ECDC’s ‘dark red’ zone, as its 14-day cumulative Covid-19 diagnosis rate exceeds 500.

A whopping 97,313 PCR and 698,772 rapid tests were carried out, translating to 78,690 rapid tests per 100,000 people.

Close to all cases were locally acquired, at 98.6 per cent and of those infected in the two-week period just over half were women, at 51.7 per cent.

Those aged over 60 accounted for 12.1 per cent of the cases, while the broad age group of 20-59 had 68.3 per cent of the positives. Those aged 0-19 accounted for 19.6 per cent.

Over the two weeks Nicosia accounted for 38.3 per cent of cases (with 2,341) while Limassol had 1,698 cases with 27.7 per cent. Famagusta accounted for just 3.7 per cent.

The average age of hospital patients admitted to ICUs was 67 and mainly male, at 66 per cent, while the median length of stay was 13 days.

As of May 12, there were 38 people in the ICU of which 68.4 per cent had underlying health conditions.

For those hospitalised with Covid-19 in general, the average age is 62 of whom 58.5 per cent are male.

Of those hospitalised 55 per cent have comorbidities.

As for the for the deaths, the case fatality risk stands at 0.5 per cent and an associated mortality of 38.5 per 100,000.

Two thirds of those who died from Covid-19 are men, with 226 as of May 11 from the 342 in total, while Limassol and Nicosia have just over a third of the recorded deaths each, with 36.6 per cent and 34.8 per cent respectively.

At the other end, Paphos has recorded 23 deaths equating to 6.7 per cent of the total.