Covid-19 cases increase among young people
CORONAVIRUS cases among young adults with no symptoms in the TRNC are on the rise, according to new research by Near East University (NEU).
A study by the NEU Covid-19 PCR laboratory regarding locally transmitted cases revealed that 52 positive cases were detected from samples taken from NEU Hospital between July 13 and September 10.
Thirty-seven of the cases were male (71 per cent), while only 15, or 29 per cent, were female. The average age was 31.
The positive cases were detected from 11,660 tests performed over the same period, a rate of around four per 1,000 people.
“Although the detected cases show signs of asymptomatic or mild disease, it has been noted that these people carry a high amount of virus, and therefore the risk of transmission is high,” an NEU statement said.
“The rate of young people [catching] the coronavirus is increasing and this rate is remarkable.”
A separate study of coronavirus tests conducted on people who entered North Cyprus either by air or sea from Turkey between July 1 and September 9 revealed 65 positive results from 31,523 tests, or an average of about two for every thousand people.
The male to female ratio of positive cases was similar to those of local cases – 46 (70 per cent) and 19 (30 per cent) respectively.
NEU vice rector and microbiologist Professor Dr Tamer Şanlıdağ said: “Precautions among young people, who can spread the disease with no or mild symptoms and become infectious, are a must.”
Prof Şanlıdağ added that NEU had carried out “intensive studies” at their Covid-19 PCR laboratory and determined that, according to the test results, the rate of young people contracting the coronavirus is “gradually increasing”.
He said the risk of transmission was particularly high from those who “carry the virus asymptomatically or who recover after mild [symptoms]”.
Prof Şanlıdağ added: “It is very likely that there will be cases that increase gradually among young people, who do not know [they are Covid-19 positive], who have no symptoms and who roam around in society.
“Therefore, it is imperative not to let go of the [Covid-19] measures. We can turn this [period] to our favour by paying attention to social distancing, the use of masks, and hygiene, which are the three important measures to prevent contamination. We must fulfil our responsibility both for the sake of ourselves and for society.”