188 new infections detected

188 new coronavirus cases were detected in the Republic of Cyprus on Thursday after 4,304 tests were conducted, raising total known cases to 3,154.

Thursday’s new cases smashed the record for the highest number of cases to be detected in a single day, and were accompanied by a bundle of tighter restrictions that are to come into effect on Friday, including an 11pm curfew for Paphos and Limassol, and a mandatory mask rule for all outdoor public spaces islandwide.

22 of the new cases were detected among the 375 samples collected through contact tracing, while 140 were people who got tested at their own initiative.

Another five emerged among samples collected at general hospitals, and 13 involved people who either got referred for testing by their GP or who were part of special health groups.

Another seven involved arrivals to Cyprus airports, while one was detected in the framework of the random sampling program being undertaken by the Cyprus Football Association.

Currently, the Famagusta district hospital is treating 22 coronavirus patients, four of which are in the ICU. Two more are intubated in the Nicosia general hospital ICU, while two more are receiving treatment at other hospitals.