The continuous rise in the number of new COVID-19 cases in Cyprus in recent weeks does not exclude the possibility of more people being treated at ICUs and more people dying, Constantinos Tsioutis, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Infection Prevention and Control at the European University and specialist with training in infection control, member of the advisory scientific team on COVID-19, has told CNA.

In statements to CNA, Tsioutis said the situation with new cases is closely monitored and that it is too early to review the effectiveness of restrictive measures which were announced last week.

However, he noted, it is worrying to see the number of people in hospital double in the space of a week and the number of people treated at ICUs also rise.  

He added that while the number of people at ICU is still low and manageable the great number of cases in previous days “leads us to the conclusion that it is very likely that we will see even more people hospitalised and more people needing treatment in the ICUs in the coming days.”

The member of the scientific team also said if that right now “it is best to wait in order to review the effectiveness of measures already in place.”

Tsioutis also said that it would be very alarming if the number of people needing intensive care starts increasing at a worrying rate, he gave Germany as an example where strict measures were announced because the number of people treated in ICUs doubled within a week. “Therefore, we would follow a similar course of action,” he pointed out.

It would also be worrying if elderly people start getting infected, he said, adding that right now the percentage of elderly people who contracted the disease is very low but that it would be a matter of time of this changing particularly if people who are infected are not careful.

Tsioutis further pointed out that although the number of cases recorded in recent days is high, it seems to remain at a similar level, which is an indirect indication that people have been upholding some measures and that they are being careful.

“Certainly, we should not relax, we should follow protective measures so that there can be a drop in cases,” he noted, adding that “we have a long way to go before we are out of danger and it will take a long time to overcome this serious situation.”
 
Referring to the possibility of having a high rate of deaths from COVID-19, Tsioutis said that one in two people who need to be treated in the ICU pass away. “In the same way that we say that a percentage of patients will need to be hospitalised, a percentage of patients will need be treated in the ICU, in the same way a percentage of patients will pass away,” he explained.

Right now, he said, mortality is at about 40 -50% for the patients treated in the ICU, that is to say, one in two people dies.” “Therefore, it is to be expected that there will also be a number of deaths, and this is why we do not want to reach that point,” he added.

Asked whether the health system is ready, Tsioutis said that it is ready and that there are plans of action at multiple levels. He acknowledged that a small number of difficulties has arisen, adding however that there are also reflexes.