Importation and transmission routes of COVID-19 into Northern Cyprus: considerations and challenges

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that arises from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged from Wuhan, China, and has spread worldwide currently affecting more than 210 countries and territories. This study aims to report the first observed cases in Northern Cyprus, their importation and transmission routes, and the current challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak. The index case of COVID-19 in Northern Cyprus was identified as a 65-year-old German tourist on 9th March 2020, whereas the first local case was an individual who returned from a trip to England after which multiple transmissions of different origins occurred. Rapid containment measures were enacted to stop the spread of the disease. As of 25th April 2020, 108 COVID-19 cases and four deaths have been observed in the country. Although the epidemiological curve is currently far from a peak, increased preparedness by forming epidemiological surveillance teams to investigate current and future outbreaks, and setting up reference laboratories and centers fully-equipped with next-gen-eration sequencing platforms in which molecular tests can be performed more rapidly and at a larger scale is imperative.