Cyprus detects 14 new coronavirus cases

The Cyprus health ministry announced 14 new coronavirus cases on Friday, when 2,917 lab tests were conducted to check samples for the virus, bringing total known cases to 1,481.

Eight from private initiative, all asymptomatic

The majority, and specifically eight, of Friday’s new cases were detected among samples collected from people who took the initiative to get tested.

The first developed symptoms on Thursday and took the test privately, the second is an asymptomatic carrier who took the test prior to flying back home.

The third is an asymptomatic Russian national, a permanent resident of Cyprus, who returned to Cyprus on August 14. He took the test prior to the end of his mandatory quarantine period, as required by local rules, with the test coming back positive.

The fourth is a Greek national, permanently living in Cyprus, who returned from Greece on August 19. He took the test privately at the request of his employer prior to returning to work. This case is also asymptomatic.

The fifth is an asymptomatic Hungarian national permanently residing in Cyprus. He returned to the island on August 24 and took the test privately at the request of his employer prior to returning to work.

The sixth person is a Greek national who took the test despite having no symptoms or travel history.

The seventh returned to Cyprus from the US on August 15. They took the test 48 hours before the end of their mandatory quarantine period, with the test coming back positive, but the case is asymptomatic.

The eighth person took the test prior to returning to work, and is asymptomatic.

Two refugees, two contacts, and two arrivals

Among Friday’s new cases were two refugees residing in the Pournara camp in Kokkinotrimithia. Though the two are not connected, they are both Syrians who arrived north of the island from Syria via Turkey. Both were transferred to the Eden resort for isolation.

Two more were contacts of another known case that was announced on August 24.

The remaining two were arrivals to Cyprus airports. The first involves an Italian man who arrived from Milan on Thursday, while the second is a Hungarian national who flew into Cyprus on August 25.

Currently, the Famagusta general hospital is treating four coronavirus patients, one of which is in the ICU, while the Nicosia general is still treating one patient in the ICU.