Cyprus detects 15 new coronavirus cases

The Cyprus health ministry announced that 15 new coronavirus cases were detected on Wednesday when a bulk of 3,132 laboratory tests were conducted to check samples for the virus.

Of the 15 new cases, seven emerged through contact tracing, though one of these had gotten tested privately.

Another person who tested positive was referred for testing at a public health clinic by their GP.

Two of the new cases involved refugees who were residents of the Pournara camp in Kokkinotrimithia, with both being transferred to the Eden Resort where they will isolate.

Another new case involved a Cypriot woman who returned to the island from Amsterdam (the Netherlands are currently included in Cyprus’ category B) on Tuesday, and was tested upon arrival at the airport.

The remaining four new cases involved people who got tested at their own initiative: one had developed symptoms, the second was asked to get tested by the company for which they would begin working, the third involved a Cypriot woman who returned from Greece on July 29 and who later developed symptoms, while the fourth got tested prior to a planned trip abroad.

The new cases brought total known coronavirus cases in the Republic of Cyprus 1,195. Currently, the Famagusta general hospital is treating four coronavirus patients who are described as being in good general condition.

On Wednesday, the Cyprus health minister Constantinos Ioannou warned the public to limit social gatherings as much as possible, noting that the majority of Cyprus’ increasing new cases are asymptomatic youth, who tend to socialise and travel more, making contact tracing efforts difficult.