CLOSE
Loading...
12° Nicosia,
04 August, 2025
 
Home  /  News

Officials scramble to halt coronavirus chain

Employees at Limassol company test positive after being linked to last month's work visa traveler

Newsroom

Health officials went on high alert over the weekend after two contacts, who tested positive for the coronavirus, were linked to a traveler who landed in the Republic of Cyprus more than two weeks ago.

According to local media, two employees at a company in Limassol tested positive on Saturday after the management had instructed them to give samples. The tests were requested after the two individuals had come in contact with another employee, who flew from the United States on June 20 via a low-risk European country.

The traveler, described as a foreign national on a work visa, got a connection flight in Greece and landed at Larnaca International Airport through a low-risk category, which does not require a health certificate prior to boarding the flight.

But local reports said he later developed symptoms and got tested at Limassol General Hospital, with results showing on June 29 he had contracted the virus while another contact also tested positive the following day.

'We have to stop it at the first stage before it can move onto the second and create a chain of infection'

Petros Karayiannis, a microbiology professor on the government’s coronavirus task force, was quoted in local media saying there was no reason for the Limassol business to shut down, citing the fact that there was no customer service being carried out at the company.

But the expert, who was quoted in online Reporter, also clarified that the chain of infection was now being considered a local matter.

“We have to stop it at the first stage before it can move onto the second and create an infection chain,” Karayiannis said.

State officials in the Republic of Cyprus also announced two more coronavirus cases over the weekend, a football player and another individual who will remain at a rehabilitation centre before possibly being moved to Pournara migrant camp in rural Nicosia.

According to state officials, the total number of known confirmed cases reached 1003 in the Republic of Cyprus.

Experts said there was no reason for panic but urged the public to remain vigilant and keep applying social distancing measures.

TAGS
Cyprus  |  Limassol  |  coronavirus  |  chain of infection  |  public health  |  PCR  |  passenger  |  airport  |  low risk  |  high risk  |  category

News: Latest Articles

Colin Stewart, the Canadian diplomat and veteran peacekeeper who’s led the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for the last four years, is stepping down next week.

A farewell from the fault line

In his final interview, UN envoy Colin Stewart reflects on Cyprus’s deepening divide, and the fading chance for peace.
Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
 |  NEWS
Unique gifts with Lidl Plus!

Unique gifts with Lidl Plus!

From Friday 1 to Sunday 31 August, 10 lucky users of the Lidl Plus app will win unique summer gifts that will make their ...
Promotional Activity
 |  NEWS
X