COVID-19 Hospitalisations Spike to 180 - Health Ministry
January 2, 2021
The number of patients in hospital for COVID-19 spiked to 180, with 54 patients in serious condition, said the Health Ministry.
Today, 627 new cases of coronavirus COVID-19 were confirmed.
Two pensioners, a man aged 82 and a woman aged 91 succumbed to the disease. The total number of COVID deaths rose to 129.
Visits to homes are banned until January 10 except for tonight when up to 10 people can gather and there’s a curfew of 1am.
The vaccination programme was rolled out at hospitals and retirement homes earlier this week.
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou appealed to the public to take the free rapid COVID-19 tests because the public health system hit the red line on hospital admissions this week.
Hospitals set up extra beds to take in more patients and private doctors pitched in to help but the situation is critical, says the minister.
The authorities tried to avoid overwhelming the public health facilities by introducing punitive measures but the nightmare is coming true.
No complacency over vaccinations
Vaccinations will take many months and immunity in the population is far in the future, said the minister. He urged everyone to maintain hygienic measures, to wash hands frequently, maintain distance from other people and wear masks outdoors and indoors where there are more than two people present.
Vaccinations start
President Nicos Anastasiades was vaccinated against the contagious and potentially deadly disease, saying that the vaccine is the gift of life.
Doubts remain that people who suffer from allergies and asthma can be vaccinated safely after Pfizer/BioNTech reported serious adverse reactions from people in this group.
The vaccination programme raises hopes that the authorities have a real weapon against the virus after nine months of punishing measures failed to prevent a serious resurgence of new cases and deaths.
The pandemic has devastated the global and local economies and triggered widespread mental health illnesses, according to experts.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
