Up to 1500 Limassol residents could be carrying virus, expert says

There could be as many as 1,000-1,500 Limassol residents carrying an active coronavirus infection, member of the government’s coronavirus task force, Leontios Kostrikis, said Monday.

Kostrikis said the positive epidemiological situation Cyprus was enjoying after the easing of lockdown and restriction measured led the public into behaviours of over-relaxation, ultimately giving way to the multiple infection chains currently being identified in Limassol.

Based on the results of checks currently being conducted in the southern coastal city, Kostrikis estimated based on the infection rate recorded that there are around 1,000-1,500 people with active coronavirus infections in Limassol, which he said is almost at the point of being on ‘red alert’.

The expert added that coronavirus clusters are also forming in Larnaca.

Kostrikis stressed the need for an effective implementation of the measures announced by the government, which will work to stop the chains of infection in their tracks.

But ultimately, “the mask is one of the best tools we have at our disposal, and now, its use is imperative.”

Kostrikis warned that if the new spike in case is not stemmed soon, “in a few weeks there will be a storm that will take over all of Cyprus.”

Regarding the downgrading of Greece to the higher-risk category B, effective as of August 6, and which stirred reaction from the Greek Tourism Minister and from disgruntled locals who either already travelled to Greece or who were planning to do so later in August, Kostrikis said he was in complete agreement with the government’s decision, noting Greece is currently in a worse epidemiological situation than Cyprus.

“I understand that there is a certain sensitivity with Greece, but right now we need to protect our country,” he said, adding that “we don’t have the luxury of forming new infection chains.”

Limassol undergoing intense disinfection

The emergence of the new chains of infection in Limassol shocked the municipality into action, sending out crews to disinfect municipal and public spaces which may contribute to the transmission of the virus, such as bus stops, children’s playareas and parks.