NICOSIA — Cypriot Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said he's anxious about rising rates of COVID-19 found in rapid tests and also how relatively few young are getting vaccinated.

People who don't get inoculated have far higher chances of becoming infected or seriously ill but there are doubters who don't believe the shots are safe or effective, reducing how many are being protected.

“The only way to prevent a new outbreak of the pandemic is to increase the vaccinations…From yesterday’s (June 21 rapid test results) the positivity rate doubled and this is worrying,” he said, The Cyprus Mail reported.

He was speaking t the Famagusta General Hospital, which was being used as a COVID,  where he thanked the staff for their hard work throughout the pandemic, the paper said.

During his visit, he was asked about the vaccination campaign which has so far led to 62 percent of the population receiving their first dose as of June 18, closing in on the 70 percent needed to be effective against the pandemic.

Ioannou noted the low uptake amongst those who remain unvaccinated, despite the portal being open to everyone above the age of 18, the paper also said.

“Of particular concern is the fact that interest in vaccination has waned… while the portal has been open since last Friday (June 18), very few people have booked an appointment,” he also said.