Cases spike among under-19s worsens outlook

An increase in cases amongst teenagers and children has pushed up Cyprus’ overall count of COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks, as more than one third of cases involved teenagers and children.

Cyprus reported 36,018 in the past two weeks, some 5,000 lower the 31,013 new COVID-19 cases reported in the previous report issued a fortnight ago, indicating that a recent wave of infections powered by Omicron has yet to subside. According to the report, authorities note an increase in cases involving people under the age of 19, as the make for more than one third of all cases reported in the past two weeks.

By age group, cases included 12,979 individuals aged 0-19 years-old (36%), 19,327 individuals aged 20-59 years (53.7%), and 3,706 individuals aged 60 years and older (10.3%), while for six cases age was not known.

The median age of all cases diagnosed in the last 14 days is 31 years (IQR: 13-44 years). The median age of adult cases (? 18 years) is 40 years (IQR: 31-52 years)

According to the health ministry’s latest epidemiological report, the increase in cases has pushed the island’s 14-day accumulated diagnosis up to 4,056.1 per 100,000 population from 3,492.5 in the previous report.

However, the island’s 14-day accumulated diagnosis rate is still higher than it was a month ago when it stood at 5,235 per 100,000.

Cyprus had been on a rollercoaster ride of new coronavirus cases, peaking at 5,457 on January 4, with cases dropping in recent weeks as they settled below 3,000.

Hospitalisations appear to be dropping according to health ministry data. As of February 16, 196 people were still hospitalized.

A total of 32 COVID-19 patients are in a more serious condition, 28 of which were on a ventilator.

Two weeks ago, some 232 people were in COVID wards in state hospitals. The record for hospitalisations is 301 recorded last April.

Among all cases diagnosed in the last 14 days, district information was available for 29,991 (83.3%) cases, of which 9,797 (32.7%) were reported in Nicosia district, 9,142 (30.5%) in Limassol, 5,626 (18.8%) in Larnaca, 3,503 (11.7%) in Paphos, 1,918 (6.3%) in Famagusta and 5 cases had residence abroad.

Based on the epidemiological history, 1.9% (n = 674) were cases with a recent travel history, while 98.4% (n = 34,951) were cases of domestic transmission.

Over the last 14 days, 94,242 RT PCR and 1,372,237 rapid antigen tests have been performed (10,612.8 RT PCR and 154,531.2 rapid antigen tests per 100,000 population).

Among cases diagnosed until February 14th, 2022, 934 deaths (all causes) were reported in the Republic of Cyprus until February 16th, 2022 (CFR: 0.3%).

The mortality (all causes) for people with COVID-19 is 105.2 per 100,000 population.