166 new cases as hospital patients surge

166 new coronavirus cases emerged on Wednesday after 3,529 tests were conducted, raising total known cases to 5,100.

The health ministry raised the alarm over the rising number of coronavirus carriers requiring hospitalization, as the Famagusta general hospital is currently treating 40 patients, five of which are in the ICU, while the Nicosia general hospital is treating 12 more patients in a general ward and an additional five in its ICU.

63 of Wednesday’s new cases were detected through contact tracing, while 65 involved people who took the initiative to get tested.

Seven more involved people who got tested at general hospitals, 15 were airport arrivals, eight were people who were either part of special health groups or who were referred for testing by their GP.

Another three were detected through the program targeting school staff and students, two more were detected through the program being undertaken by the Cyprus Football Association, while three more emerged among the samples collected from residents of migrant camps.

At 8:30pm, President Nicos Anastasiades is expected to address the nation to relay the Cabinet’s decisions regarding stricter coronavirus measures that authorities hope will curb the rampant spread of the virus among the community. Anastasiades’ address will be followed by a press conference by the health minister Constantinos Ioannou.