Extensive Testing and Public Health Interventions for the Control of COVID-19 in the Republic of Cyprus between March and May 2020
Annalisa Quattrocchi, Ioannis Mamais, Constantinos Tsioutis, Eirini Christaki, Costas S. Constantinou, Maria Koliou, Zoi‐Dorothea Pana, Valentinos Silvestros, Fani Theophanous, Christos Haralambous, Androulla Stylianou, Sotiroula Sotiriou, María Athanasiadou, Theopisti Kyprianou, Anna Demetriou, Christiana A. Demetriou, Ourania Kolokotroni, Ιωάννα Γρηγορίου, Niki I. Paphitou, George Panos, Leondios G. Kostrikis, Peter Karayiannis, Γεώργιος Πετρίκκος, Petros Agathangelou, George Mixides, Georgios Siakallis, Linos Hadjihannas, Lakis Palazis, Anna Vavlitou, Chrystalla Matsentidou‐Timiliotou, Dimitris Koukios, Tonia Adamidi, Frangiskos Frangopoulos, Elizabeth Constantinou, Georgios K. Nikolopoulos
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly affected the well-being of individuals worldwide. We herein describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in the Republic of Cyprus during the first epidemic wave (9 March-3 May 2020). We analyzed surveillance data from laboratory-confirmed cases, including targeted testing and population screening. Statistical analyses included logistic regression. During the surveillance period, 64,136 tests (7322.3 per 100,000) were performed, 873 COVID-19 cases were diagnosed, and 20 deaths were reported (2.3%). Health-care workers (HCWs) represented 21.4% of cases. Overall, 19.1% of cases received hospital care and 3.7% required admission to Intensive Care Units. Male sex (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 3.04; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.97-4.69), increasing age (aOR: 1.56; 95%CI: 1.36-1.79), symptoms at diagnosis (aOR: 6.05; 95%CI: 3.18-11.50), and underlying health conditions (aOR: 2.08; 95%CI: 1.31-3.31) were associated with hospitalization. For recovered cases, the median time from first to last second negative test was 21 days. Overall, 119 primary cases reported 616 close contacts, yielding a pooled secondary attack rate of 12% (95%CI: 9.6-14.8%). Three population-based screening projects, and two projects targeting employees and HCWs, involving 25,496 people, revealed 60 positive individuals (0.2%). Early implementation of interventions with targeted and expanded testing facilitated prompt outbreak control on the island.