COVID-19 pandemic in Akrotiri and Dhekelia

COVID-19 pandemic in Akrotiri and Dhekelia
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationAkrotiri and Dhekelia
Arrival date15 March 2020
(5 years, 4 months, 1 week and 6 days)
Confirmed cases11
Recovered0
Deaths
0
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The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the British Overseas Territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in March 2020.

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[1][2]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[3][4] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[5][3] From 19 March, Public Health England no longer classified COVID-19 as a "High consequence infectious disease".[4]

Timeline

March 2020

On 13 March, Cyprus implemented a 14-day self-isolation rule for all people travelling from the United Kingdom. This measure included arrivals from the United Kingdom travelling to the Sovereign Bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Several people were self-isolating within the bases and being tested. All sporting activities, visits, and non-essential exercises within the bases were cancelled, in an effort to reduce the number of outside visitors.[6]

On 15 March, the first two cases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia were confirmed, both members of the UK Armed Forces permanently based at RAF Akrotiri. They arrived at Paphos Airport on 13 March. They self-isolated and were tested positive after developing mild symptoms. Immediately after, the BFC Joint Services Health Unit started contact tracing.[7]

On 18 March, a third case was confirmed.[8]

April 2020

On that same day, the bases announced that all six schools in Akrotiri and Dhekelia would be closed until 20 April.[9]

References

  1. ^ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  2. ^ Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  5. ^ "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Coronavirus: Bases implementing 14 day self-isolation rule for all UK arrivals". in-cyprus.
  7. ^ "Coronavirus: British Bases announce two confirmed cases". in-cyprus. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Coronavirus: One more tests positive in British Bases". in-cyprus.
  9. ^ "Coronavirus: All schools within SBAs closing until April 20". in-cyprus.


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