The scenario of taking additional and stricter measures to limit the spread of the COVID 19 virus is remote, the Professor of Microbiology/Molecular Virology of the School of Medicine of the University of Nicosia, Dr. Petros Karagiannis, told KYPE, who clarified that Cyprus is currently not it’s about an epidemic wave, but it’s about an outbreak.
Asked by KYPE if we are in danger of an epidemic breaking out again in Cyprus, Dr. Karagiannis stated that “we are not dealing with an epidemic wave, but we are dealing with an outbreak”.
He explained that at the end of last week Cyprus counted 4 thousand known cases, to note that when the Omicron variant invaded the community “we counted almost 4 thousand cases a day, with the highest number recorded daily reaching 7 thousand”.
Therefore now, he emphasized, “we are not talking about a wave, but about an outbreak which will complete its cycle and begin to recede”.
Fall in one to two weeks
Dr. Karagiannis estimates that in one to two weeks “we will start to see a decline”, however, he advises the public to be very careful, especially with the return of children to school, where there may be an outbreak.
When asked if a larger number of cases will be recorded in the coming days, on the occasion of the gatherings that took place during the Christmas holidays, Dr. Karagiannis said that “we will see an increase in the numbers, but not to the extent that we should be worried.”
In relation to the low attendance of vaccinations, Dr. Karagiannis does not express concern, since as he explained “there is a high level of immunity in the community, which mitigates the symptoms”.
“Where vaccinations need to be intensified is among the elderly, who are mainly hospitalized at the moment,” he said.
Besides, when asked if a new meeting has been scheduled at the Ministry of Health with the members of the Scientific Monitoring Committee of the COVID-19 disease, Dr. Karagianni said that the standard meeting with the Ministry of Health will take place at the end of the month or at the beginning of February, however, he clarified that the adoption of additional, stricter measures is a “remote scenario”.
