A second high dependency unit has been in operation at Famagusta Hospital to meet increased needs for Covid-19 patients since last week, its scientific director Amalia Hadjiyianni told the Cyprus News Agency on Wednesday.

This brings the total number of high dependency beds there to 12.

There are currently 56 Covid-19 patients at the facility, which is the reference hospital for coronavirus in Cyprus, the youngest aged 34 and the oldest 92. The average age is 62.

Of the 56 patients, 11 are vaccinated, she added.

Hadjiyianni said as the dominance of the Delta variant leads to a rapid deterioration in the health of Covid patients there was a greater need for close monitoring in high dependence or even intensive care units. “It is exactly for this reason that it became necessary to increase the high dependency beds at the reference hospital.”

The Eden rehabilitation centre in Tersephanou is currently hosting 135 people who will remain there until they test negative.