NICOSIA, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus' Health Ministry announced a reduced figure of new COVID-19 cases Saturday, but a specialist advising the ministry warned against jumping to conclusions.
The 30 new cases, down from 40 on Friday, raised the total infections announced by the Health Ministry to 426.
With the total 88 cases in the Turkish-controlled part of Cyprus, the tally in the entire eastern Mediterranean island climbed to 514, including 11 deaths.
Leondios Kostrikis, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus and a member of the Health Ministry's advisory body on the pandemic, said the number of new cases remains within the assessment of the scientific team advising the government.
"It has a statistical and epidemiological logic compared with the infections of the last few days. It is early to speak about any indication. We'll need a few more days," Kostrikis said.
"Next week will be critical in having a better picture," he added.
His reference to next week was in relation to the mass testing of people in two cluster areas that saw large concentrations of infections.
The expert also pleaded with people to continue staying indoors, saying this is the best method of facing the virus in the absence of pharmaceutical therapy. Enditem
