Another death probed in fake pass case

Another COVID patient seen by a doctor accused of issuing fake vaccination certificates has died on his hospital bed, with blood test results still pending on over a dozen people that would show whether they had been vaccinated.

A 41-year-old male who was intubated in the Intensive Care Unit at Nicosia General Hospital died on Wednesday, with reports confirming he had been infected by the coronavirus.

The deceased was described as having been a patient of a 53-year-old doctor who was recently arrested, following accusations that he had issued fake vaccination certificates to patients. A 43-year-old man who also caught the bug and died last week was said to have been a patient of the same doctor, while a third patient was said to have been hospitalized.

While there was no official confirmation that the two men died of COVID-19, health ministry data suggested their deaths were either attributed to the coronavirus or they were post-covid patients who died of other complications.

A total of seven medical doctors are currently being investigated in different districts, with media reports referring to “charlatan doctors” offering dubious antibody cocktails and other physicians accused of providing fake Safe Passes.

The Cyprus Medical Association is also probing the matter, focusing on three types of allegations against their members, including fake Safe Pass documents, inappropriate prescribing practices, and urging people not to get vaccinated.

At least 14 blood tests results were expected to show whether the doctor accused of issuing fake vaccination certificates had indeed vaccinated them. Initial reports said the physician denied any wrongdoing and dismissed allegations against him that included document forgery.