Confirmed coronavirus cases rise to 49 in Republic, 58 islandwide

Three new coronavirus cases were confirmed on Tuesday, bringing the total to 49 in the south.

According to information received by the Health Ministry, the three involve two contacts of other cases that tested positive in recent days, and one person who had recently returned from Belgium and developed symptoms while isolated at home.

Contact tracing in light of the three new cases has already begun by the Ministry’s epidemiological observation unit.

The new cases brought the total in the south to 49, 27 of which were contacts of confirmed cases. A total of seven people have tested positive for the virus in the north and two in the British Bases.

Regarding laboratory analyses for coronavirus, the Health Ministry emphasized that sampling is based on protocols of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), as well as on available scientific data and the prioritization of actual needs.

It urged the public to trust the judgment of health professionals, especially given that shortages in the medical equipment used for the laboratory analysis are beginning to arise on a global scale.

Unnecessary tests can cause problems for others who really need it, it stressed.