There has been a constant flow of admissions of Covid patients with severe symptoms at the reference hospital in Famagusta in recent days, the majority unvaccinated, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Amalia Hadjiyianni, the scientific director of Larnaca and Famagusta general hospitals, said 93 per cent of patients hospitalised in Famagusta were not vaccinated.

“Thirty people are being treated at the reference hospital today, five in the high dependency unit because they need close monitoring,” she said.

The youngest patient is 33 years old and the eldest 93. Neither have been vaccinated, she said. The average age of hospitalised Covid patients at Famagusta is 69.

The Eden rehab centre in Tersephanou hosted 27 people waiting to be given the all-clear.

Hadjiyianni said in recent days they have seen a constant flow of patients with severe symptoms needing immediate treatment.

She said the average length of treatment in hospital was five days though four people had to be intubated over the weekend and transferred to Nicosia general hospital ICU.

“The age of the four patients who had to be intubated is between 30 and 65,” she said. Hadjiyianni added that people must understand that even youths, especially those with underlying health issues, may need intubation because of Covid and should get a vaccine to primarily protect themselves but also those around them.

Hadjiyianni urged people to contact their GP as soon as they show any symptoms in a bid to rule out common colds or the flu.

If the GP diagnoses Covid symptoms, the person must be referred to hospital as soon as possible for the treatment to be effective.