One new case of coronavirus was announced on Monday by the health ministry, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 917.

Announcing the new case, virologist Leontios Kostrikis said the individual was among a total of 583 tests processed on retail and construction workers.

A total of 1,287 tests were processed on Monday, 88 through contact tracing, 199 state hospital laboratories, 141 conducted on private initiative, 86 on vulnerable groups, 129 on repatriated individuals, and 61 at schools.

“The results we are announcing today are especially satisfying,” Kostrikis said.

He added the public is paying extra attention, including parents and students, who are back at school.

The testing programme being run on schools will be concluded soon, and the first data will be available to the epidemiological team for a clearer picture on the situation.

Kostrikis said the two cases found at a school in Aradippou could have possibly arisen from the fact the area was previously a hotspot of infection.

Commenting on the situation at the hospitals national health service (Okypy) scientific director, Dr Marios Loizou said, four people are being treated for the virus at Famagusta General, the reference hospital.

One of the patients is in the advanced care unit. Doctors have said all the patients are in generally good condition.

Another three individuals are in intubated at Nicosia General’s intensive care unit.

“The clinical status of all the patients in intensive care is critical but stable,” he said.

He added one more individual is being treated for the virus at another hospital in Cyprus.

Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) made mention of the coronavirus and its effect on children, according to Loizou.

He said the majority of children, who contract the virus, will only face mild symptoms.

Commenting on the Kawasaki inflammatory syndrome observed in children and teenagers, he said WHO has given special instructions to paediatricians on how to deal with it, confirming it potentially is linked to Covid-19.

Regarding a case reported of a child with the syndrome treated at Makarios children’s hospital, he said the child recovered and was released.

Loizou said in Cyprus the path of the disease has been mild, and that during the next phase of lifting lockdown measures, it is up to the public to define the results in how Cyprus dealt with the virus.

Source: Cyprus Mail