Zero streak derailed after new case emerges

One new confirmed coronavirus case was announced in the Republic of Cyprus, after a hotel employee in Paphos tested positive on Sunday.

A health ministry press release said that according to the epidemiological monitoring unit, one person tested positive out of 55 lab tests, bringing the total of cases to 985.

According to local media, the company that operates a hotel in Paphos district issued a statement saying they had been informed by state authorities that one of their employees had tested positive.

The company, Capital Accommodation, said the employee was a member of a support cleaning services crew at a hotel and spa resort, adding that she never came in contact with any guests. It was understood the employee had been carrying out janitorial work.

A disinfection operation for the entire hotel took take place following instructions by the health ministry, while contact tracing would also take place. All employees who returned to work gave samples for further testing.

The company said maintaining safety for guests and staff was its highest priority and was cooperating with the health ministry. 

According to the Cyprus News Agency, Sunday’s samples were taken through a programme testing a pool of 10,000 employees in businesses that resumed operations during the second and the third phase of easing the restrictive measures.

No one tested positive out of 131 tests for passengers and people who have been repatriated, 54 tests carried out at the private initiative, 22 samples tested through contact tracing, 112 tests carried out by state hospital microbiology labs and 246 tests carried out after referrals by personal doctors and for special groups screened through public health centres.

As of Sunday afternoon, one person was being treated at Famagusta General Hospital, which is the referral health centre for COVID-19 patients. Reports said the male patient was expected to be released on Monday, while ten others were being treated at a rehabilitation centre.