Clerides recovering after bronchitis

FORMER president Glafcos Clerides’ condition is improving, his doctors said yesterday.

Clerides, who has been recovering in Larnaca hospital’s intensive care unit since Saturday with acute bronchitis, is expected to be discharged by the end of the week.
Speaking to reporters yesterday afternoon, the 89-year-old’s doctors said their patient’s condition was stable and that he was continuing to receive treatment for bronchitis.

“It is preferable that he remain in hospital as long as it takes for him to recover fully before he returns home,” his doctors said.

The former president’s personal doctor, Dr Iosif Casios, and cardiologist Dr Pambis Nicolaides, said no visitors were being allowed to see Clerides.

“There are so many people that want to visit him that some sort of bar had to be set. He must definitely rest,” they said.

The ban was also set so to protect the elderly man from infection.

“You have to understand that if someone visits him and that person is sick, there is a risk of infection, and that is the main reason for a stop to visits,” he said.

Clerides’ daughter Katy said her father was much better and that she hoped he would be discharged within a day or two. She said her father had received a lot of phone calls, which his family tried to take so as not tire him

Among those who’d rung were President Tassos Papadopoulos and honourary EDEK president Vassos Lyssarides, she said.

She added that visits had been limited to the immediate family and political environment and that even then those visits were only for five minutes.

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