The detection of 705 new COVID-19 cases in Cyprus on Friday was unexpected Dr. Peter Karayiannis told the Cyprus News Agency. He also pointed out that vaccination coverage should proceed and there should be no hesitation about the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Dr Karayiannis, who is Professor of Microbiology/Molecular Virology at the University of Nicosia Medical School and member of the Advisory Scientific Committee for COVID-19, said that they don’t know exactly what may be the reason for the increased number of cases on Friday.
It is recalled that yesterday the Ministry of Health announced 705 new cases after 59.144 laboratory tests with the positivity rate rising to 1.19%. The day before, the positivity rate was 0.70%.
He pointed out that there were only 34 cases found in the education sector, however there was a very high number of positive results through contact tracing of confirmed cases. As he said, almost 1/5 of those samples were positive.
Asked if that meant that there were some super-spreaders, Dr. Karagiannis said that they know that some of the infected people did not self-isolate and spread the virus, noting that the Ministry of Health issued a relevant announcement a couple of days ago.
“Unfortunately, there are those people who do not understand the danger they are putting the whole country in,” he said.
Regarding the measures that may follow, Dr. Karayiannis said that the current relaxations will be valid until the end of the month, although the Minister of Health said there would be a re-evaluation towards the end of the month.
He added that if the situation worsens significantly, there would be a reassessment and further restrictions. He noted that we have not yet come out of the difficult position, adding that there’s the mutated strain of the virus and that the whole situation needs attention.
No need for hesitation regarding AstraZeneca vaccine
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Regarding the course of vaccinations in Cyprus, he noted that the results are already visible in the elderly, since at the moment there is no problem in care homes. He pointed out that the deaths of elderly people recorded recently, concern people who were not vaccinated. “Vaccination coverage must therefore proceed” he said.
Regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine, Karayiannis said that he did not understand why big countries cause such a confusion.
“Initially they said they would not vaccinate people over 65, now Germany, the Netherlands and Canada have changed their decision and say they will not vaccinate those under 65. These are decisions that confuse people and give the wrong message, at a moment, when people need to be vaccinated,” he said.
At the same time, he added, we know from the UK that 17.5 million were vaccinated and there were only 30 people with serious side effects and no one died. He added that even if an incident occurs after vaccination it can be treated.
