Day: January 10, 2022

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A new COVID variant combines delta and omicron. Or maybe it doesn’t. Experts debate ‘deltacron.’

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NJ.com

A new strain? Or a lab error? A researcher in Cyprus claims to have discovered a new coronavirus variant — one that appears to be a combination of the delta and omicron strains, Bloomberg reported over the weekend. But experts are crying foul. Leondios Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, claims he and his colleagues have found 25 cases involving the new variant, according to Bloomberg. However, health experts from around the world have questioned the findings, saying the so-called “deltacron” variant was likely the result of a lab processing error. Dr. Krut… Continue reading “A new COVID variant combines delta and omicron. Or maybe it doesn’t. Experts debate ‘deltacron.’”

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Vehicle registration drops by 11.8% in 2021

The registration of vehicles fell by an annual 11.8% in 2021 while in December 2021 the annual drop was of the order of 38.6%, data released by the Cyprus Statistical Service (CyStat) on Monday, show.

In particular, according to the the report entitled “Registration of Motor Vehicles” for the period January-December 2021, in December 2021, the total registrations of motor vehicles were 2,018, recording a decrease of 38.6% compared to December 2020. Passenger saloon cars also registered a fall of 38.6% to 1,567.

A press release on CyStat`s official website said that total registrations of motor vehicles fell by 11.8% to 34,716 in January-December 2021, from 39,367 in January-December 2020.

Passenger saloon cars, it added, decreased to 26,634 from 30,554 in January- December 2020, recording a fall of 12.8%. Out of total number of passenger salo

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Trade deficit up by 9.75% in first eleven months 2021, provisional data show

?rade deficit rose by 9.75% in January – November 2021 amounting to €4,799 mn compared to €4,372.6 mn in the corresponding period of 2020, provisional data released by the Cyprus Statistical Service (CyStat) on Monday show.

According to the provisional data total imports of goods were €896.4 mn compared to €692.9 mn in November 2020, recording an increase of 29.4%.

Imports from other EU Member States in November 2021 were €516.4 mn and from third countries €380.0 mn, compared to €395.5 mn and €297.4 mn respectively in November 2020. Imports in November 2021 include the transfer of economic ownership of mobile transport equipment (vessels and aircrafts), of a total value of €137.7 mn as compared to €111.5 mn in November 2020.

According to CyStat, total exports of goods in November 2021 were €368.7 mn compared to €147.6 mn in November 2020, rec

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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We aim at increasing private investment in the fields of research and innovation, Chief Scientist says

Chief Scientist for Research & Innovation of the Republic of Cyprus, Chairman of the board of directors of Research & Innovation Foundation Dr. Nikolaos Mastroyiannopoulos on Monday met with President Nicos Anastasiades to whom he presented the future action plan and the work that has been done the past two years.

A press release by his office says that President Anastasiades in his statement said that Cyprus moves forward and research and innovation are two fields that rapidly change.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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EMA received conditional marketing authorisation application for Paxlovid, Pfizer’s anti-COVID-19 pill

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has announced that it has started the evaluation of an application submitted by Pfizer Europe for a conditional marketing authorisation for the oral antiviral medicine Paxlovid (PF-07321332 and ritonavir).

The application concerns the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID 19 in adult and adolescent patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) who are at high risk of progression to severe COVID 19.

According to the announcement, the benefits and risks of Paxlovid will be assessed under a reduced timeline and the EMA’s opinion could be issued within weeks, depending on whether the data submitted are sufficiently robust and whether further information is required to support the evaluation.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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?ightening of COVID measures not on the table right now, CNA learns

Tightening of COVID measures is not an option at the moment and authorities are waiting to see whether the measures already in place will yield results, Cyprus News Agency has learnt.

Ministry of Health Michalis Hadjipantelas and the Advisory Scientific Committee on the pandemic are meeting on Tuesday afternoon to review the situation and assess the new figures. The scientists will table their suggestions to be in effect in case Cyprus` epidemiological situation deteriorates.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Cyprus reports 4 deaths from COVID and 4,187 new cases, 245 patients in hospitals

Cyprus Health Ministry announced on Monday 4 deaths from COVID-19 and 4,187 new cases. Hospitalisations rose to 245 and the positivity rate is 3.05%. Total deaths reached 661 and cases since the pandemic broke out to 208,559.

Of the 245 patients 86 are in a serious condition and according to figures 76.64% of patients receiving hospital treatment are unvaccinated.

Moreover the Ministry announced that 18 post-COVID patients who are no longer infectious, are intubated in a serious condition in an ICU.

Today`s cases were detected from a total of 137,091 tests (PCR and rapid).

The deceased are an 82 year-old woman who died on January 9 at the Famagusta Reference Hospital, a man 52 years of age who passed away on January 9 at the ICU of Nicosia General Hospital, a 76 year-old woman who died on January 9 at the Nicosia General

Source: Cyprus News Agency