Cyprus COVID Deaths Pass the 300 Mark Amid Lockdown

It has been 412 days since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus pandemic on March 11, 2020. In the trying days since then, the number of Cyprus COVID deaths passed the 300 mark amid a new lockdown.

On April 27, three more patients passed away of COVID, bringing the total number of deaths to 301, said the health ministry.

The virus took an unvaccinated man aged 48 years-old while he was being treated in Nicosia General Hospital’s intensive care unit.

The average age of coronavirus deaths has fallen from over 80 years-old to 78 years-old.

Two women, aged 89 and 90, also died of COVID-19. The 90-year-old had one vaccine dose and the 89-year-old was unvaccinated.

Lockdown

We’re currently in the early stages of the third lockdown aimed at slowing down the death rate and new coronavirus cases. The number of COVID cases confirmed by rapid tests stands at 62,960. Yesterday, 611 new cases were confirmed. This is an improvement over one week ago when there was a record high of 941 cases in one day on April 21 - for a population under one million people.

The number of patients hospitalised for COVID-19 rose to 300, out of which 78 are in serious condition. Thirty-six patients are intubated because they cannot breathe on their own.

Where were the new COVID cases found?

The new COVID cases were found in various places. Sixty were discovered by contact tracing of active cases and another six were confirmed when passengers were tested in Paphos and Larnaca airports.

Nineteen of the cases were identified from samples taken in the general hospitals. Most cases were detected through rapid testing around the island.

There are an estimated 16,000 active COVID cases, according to the latest figures.

What is the projection for Cyprus COVID deaths?

If the current trend continues and there is universal mask wearing, there may be 349 COVID deaths by August 21, according to Worldometer. In the worst case scenario, this number could rise to 368 deaths.

There is a three-week lag between the number of new cases and the resulting death rate, according to the statistics.

Lockdown rules

Cyprus is in lockdown until May 9th. The main rules are:

• Curfew from 9pm to 5am as of 5am on April 26th.
• New lockdown until 12am on May 9th.
• No public events allowed either indoors or outdoors.
• No home gatherings except for Orthodox Easter Sunday.
• Only 10 people can gather on Easter Sunday – from maximum two family households.
• Only one trip outside the home per person per day.
• Permission for the daily trip is via SMS to 8998.
• Companies must limit the employees at the office – minimum three persons and maximum 25 persons.
• Employees present at the office must have a weekly rapid test to attend work.
• Schooling in groups is prohibited – e-learning is allowed.

SMS 8998 – numbers to use

Movement SMS Cyprus

You are allowed out once a day for the reasons below. Remember to send an SMS to 8998 and the response is almost instantaneous. The format is: X (the number which corresponds to the reason) Y (your ID number) Z (your post code).

1. Going to a pharmacy, visiting a physician or for blood donation or laboratory testing for
   Covid-19 or for vaccination at the vaccination centres;
2. Going to a shop for essential goods/services, including take away;
3. Going to the bank for transactions that are not available online;
4. Strictly necessary visits to public services or services of the wider public sector and local
   authorities or private businesses which operate without suspension;
5. Helping people who cannot take care of themselves or people who must protect
   themselves or who are in self-isolation and/or in places of compulsory isolation
   (quarantine) or visiting a residence;
6. Physical activity or individual sports practiced in areas where access is permitted;
7. Going to church for mass or for other types of religious worship or for individual prayer
   or for attending a ceremony, e.g. funeral, wedding, christening;
8. Any other reason that may be justified under the lockdown measures