Cuba lives its first day without masks against the coronavirus in 26 months

Cuba lives this Tuesday its first day without the mandatory use of the mask in 26 months, after the Government’s announcement to lift that restriction due to the high rate of population vaccinated against covid-19.

LOOK: Cuba eliminates the mandatory use of the mask and relaxes measures against the coronavirus

The measure announced the day before by the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal, was welcomed by some who were waiting for it in the oppressive Cuban heat and rejected by others who consider that it is too soon or they have simply gotten used to wearing masks.

The Government, for its part, has called for caution. “Finally without masks, but not always or in all situations. I recommend you see the adequacy of our protocols for this stage. An informed people is a protected people,” the country’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, wrote on Twitter.

For not wearing the mask, people could receive fines of between 2,000 and 3,000 Cuban pesos (from 80 to 100 dollars, at the official exchange rate of 24 CUP).

NO MASKS

Health authorities insist that the use of masks is a “personal decision”, so they recommend wearing it in spaces where many people gather or it is not possible to maintain physical distance.

It will be mandatory in medical consultations or in areas with restricted focus controls, according to the Minister of Health.

Likewise, the decision is maintained not to allow people with respiratory symptoms to enter work and student centers.

They also stressed that surveillance of acute respiratory infections will be maintained and vulnerable people are recommended to continue using masks as a protective measure, not only against covid-19.

The measure will be in force depending on the behavior of the country’s epidemiological situation and its effectiveness will be evaluated “periodically.”

LOW INCIDENCE

The Cuban authorities speak of a control of the pandemic due to a decrease in new cases and deaths from complications associated with covid-19.

Cuba registered 32 positives the day before, 192 active cases and no deaths, one of the lowest statistics reported since November 2020.

The health authorities consider that the control responds to the massive vaccination campaign with the local formulas Abdala, Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus.

89.9% of the population (of a total of 11.2 million inhabitants) -more than 9.9 million people- completed the anticovid immunization scheme, with Cuban vaccines.

This scenario led the government to relax other measures such as eliminating the requirement for a negative PCR test or the vaccination certificate for travelers who wish to enter the country and gradually restart face-to-face classes and services.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.