According to the health ministry latest weekly epidemiological report released on Friday, the island has succeeded in bringing the rate down from 1,034 just two weeks ago to 431.6 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Last week’s 14-day cumulative notification rate stood at 689.3.

Cyprus’ improved data puts the island in the red category based on the ECDC and a few steps closer to the goal of being on the UK’s green travel list, a key tourist market.

Countries in the red have a cumulative case notification rate of over 150, but below the 500 mark, according to the ECDC’s classification.

On Thursday, the island’s health authorities reported double-digit cases for the first time since mid-February, with 77 new Covid-19 cases recorded.

Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou tweeted Friday, “the results of the last few days are the rewarding efforts of many people on the front line and sacrifices of the public.”

Ioannou expressed his gratitude, urging the public to keep to hygiene rules and get a Covid-19 vaccine as soon as they can.

The cumulative diagnosis rate in all districts on the island dropped to less than 500/100,000 apart from Famagusta, which has a cumulative rate of 546, dropping from 768,9 per 100,000 population.

Paphos takes the lead with the lowest case rate with 294.5, down from 507.3, followed by Larnaca with 394.6 per 100,000.

Nicosia’s diagnosis rate in the last 14 days fell to 407.6 from 657.8 per 100,000 and Limassol’s at 464.8 from 683.9 per 100,000 population.

The ministry’s weekly report covered 5 to 18 May, with 3,833 cases diagnosed from 95,957 PCR and 861,805 rapid antigen tests.

Infections included 2,590 adults aged 20 to 59, while only 488 people aged 60 and older, reflecting the benefits of the country’s vaccination rollout.

Older people were the first to be vaccinated as the vaccination rollout climbed down the age ladder in December with people in their 90s.

The island’s positivity rate from rapid tests was also low at 0.2%, remaining at the same levels as last week.

Giving the health system a breather after being burdened with more than 300 Covid-19 patients, hospitalisations have dropped significantly, with patients in the hospital standing at 164.

That includes some 35 people treated in an ICU.

The median age of all people hospitalised was 63 years.

Cyprus saw 350 people die from the virus, from 70,141 cases diagnosed as of May 18.

The Covid-19 associated mortality is 39.4 per 100,000 population.

Deaths occurred in 232 men (66.3%) and 118 (33.7%) women; the median age of all Covid-19 associated deaths was 80 (IQR: 70-86years).

By district, deceased cases were 127 (36.3%) in Limassol, 120 (34.3%) in Nicosia, 61 (17.4%) from Larnaca, 24 (6.9%) from Paphos, 14 (4%) in Famagusta, and four deaths (1.1%) occurred among cases reported either in the British bases or had a residence abroad.

Source: Financial Mirror