Seven people have tested positive for coronavirus after 1731 diagnostic tests the Health Ministry said on Saturday, the same number of new cases as yesterday and the day before. This brings the total number to 864 (including 10 in the British Bases). From the 20,000 tests since April 11 a total of a total of 18,964 have been completed. At 3 pm on Friday, there were 13 patients at Famagusta Hospital, two of them in the increased care unit. All are in stable condition. There are five intubated patients in ICUs, four at Nicosia Hospital and one at Limassol Hospital. Another two patients are in Nicosia Hospital ICU, but are not intubated. Their condition is described as critical but stable. In addition, there are five confirmed Covid-19 cases in hospital wards other than Famagusta Hospital.
Paphos continues to have the most coronavirus cases per 100,000 of the population with 123.3 according to the latest data released by the epidemiological surveillance unit of the Health Ministry on Saturday. The data is updated to April 30. Larnaca has the second higher number with 106.1 per 100,000 of the population. Limassol has the least with 22.9.
The Cyprus association of retail trade enterprises announced on Saturday that all shops allowed to operate during the pandemic will re-open on Sundays starting next week. According to the association’s announcement citing the latest decree from the health ministry, retail shops will continue their operation seven days a week from May 10. “Based on the last decree issued by the minister of health, the right to reopen the retail stores on Sundays comes into force on Sunday, May 10, 2020,” it said. Shops such as bakeries, supermarkets, butcheries and fish markets have remained closed on Sundays since March 31, after a previous decree issued by the health minister. The minister’s decision, implemented to reduce citizens’ movements during the pandemic, was criticised since more people were crowding in those places during the rest of the week, risking the lack of proper social distancing and being infected with the virus.
