Public hospitals are experiencing increased pressure from the beginning of winter, with both adult and children’s wards filling up as seasonal infections surge amid colder weather. Emergency departments are reporting higher numbers of daily cases.
Upper respiratory infections and RSV cases are already being recorded, while coronavirus cases remain stable but present. Flu cases are expected to increase significantly in the coming weeks.
The situation was particularly challenging yesterday at Nicosia General Hospital’s Emergency Department, with wards reaching full capacity by midday, making it impossible to admit new patients.
More than 15 patients who arrived during the previous night were left waiting several hours for admission.
“Elderly people and young children seem to be most affected these days”, State Health Services Organisation spokesman Charalambos Charilaou told philenews.
He noted increased attendance at all state hospital emergency departments, with pathology, cardiology and pulmonology departments handling higher case volumes due to seasonal infections.
According to Charilaou, while RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) primarily affects children, adults are also presenting with symptoms.
Many patients are elderly, with a significant proportion coming from care homes.
“This isn’t unprecedented or unexpected. State hospitals are now experiencing winter pressures from seasonal infections”, he said, urging the public to take precautions and protect vulnerable groups, especially the elderly.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports that healthcare systems across Europe are under strain from increased respiratory infections.
While flu viruses are circulating at low levels, there are signs of increased activity in some countries.
The ECDC characterises the rise in RSV cases as an “epidemic” and emphasises the importance of vaccination where available.
Regarding COVID-19, the ECDC reports no current surge, though people aged 65 and over remain the main age group at risk of hospitalisation and serious outcomes.
