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Two new coronavirus cases emerged on Wednesday, while a woman aged 85, who suffered from underlying health conditions, succumbed to her coronavirus infection raising the coronavirus death toll to 17.
The new cases, which brought total known cases in the Republic of Cyprus to 905, involve one contact of another confirmed carrier of the virus and one person who took the initiative to get tested.
The two cases emerged after 1,946 samples were tested for the virus at labs across Cyprus.
Speaking at the Health Ministry’s daily coronavirus briefing, scientific director of the state health services organization, Dr Marios Loizou, said that information valid until 3pm on Wednesday showed that the Famagusta General Hospital was treating five coronavirus patients whose condition was improving. Three patients were discharged on Wednesday.
Three more patients were intubated at the Nicosia General ICU, with their condition described as critical but stable. Additionally, four more coronavirus patients were being treated in hospital wards other than the Famagusta General.
“The number of hospitalized patients that we just announced is by far the smallest number recorded over the past 50 days,” Dr Loizou said, adding that “this picture, in combination with minimal to zero new admissions, fully confirms the positive picture we have been describing in recent days.”
At the same time, Dr Loizou said, positive developments have begun to emerge across the world as regards treatments, while reports have arisen over a milder form of the virus being identified in some countries.
ECMO bypass successfully used on young COVID-19 patient
According to Dr Loizou, recent days saw the successful, and islandwide first, use of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine to treat a young female coronavirus patient who developed severe pneumonia.
The ECMO machine, which works by replacing the function of the heart and lungs, is being increasingly used around the world as a last resort for severe cases of coronavirus.
Dr Loizou said the young patient is still intubated and receiving treatment at the Nicosia General Hospital ICU, but is on course to recovery.
