The Cuban “czar” of the covid returns to television in the middle of a third wave

Havana, Jan 5 (EFE) .- The Cuban “czar” of the coronavirus, Francisco Durán, returned to public television on the island this Tuesday, where he will appear again daily in an attempt to increase the perception of risk before a third wave of covid-19 that has left a record of infections in recent days.
Cuba reported 224 new cases of covid-19 today for a cumulative 12,964 positives since the detection of the first infections in March of last year, and adds 147 deaths, none in the last day, according to the daily report of the Ministry of Public Health ( Minsap).
Durán, national director of Epidemiology of the Minsap, described the panorama in Cuba as “complex” on national television due to the increase in patients due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the consequent extension to territories where cases had not been reported for several months.
The authorities attribute this rebound largely to the failure to comply with the health protocols established for travelers arriving in Cuba after the reopening of airports to international flights in mid-October, and a month later in the case of Havana.
In addition to the notable increase in imported cases, a high percentage of autochthonous infections in recent weeks have been related to contacts with travelers, who must remain isolated until the result of the PCR that is carried out at the border upon arrival on the island.
Today’s health report is the third highest registered in the Caribbean country, only preceded by the 316 cases notified the day before and the 229 on December 28.
The head of Epidemiology, very popular and respected by the population, became the Cuban face of the confrontation with the pandemic as a result of his daily appearance for several months on the small screen, an appointment that became weekly in October, as that the disease was controlled in Cuba.
Durán trusted that his return will contribute to increasing the perception of risk in the population, and specified that although the country’s health indicators may seem “acceptable” compared to the world situation, the data “are not favorable for the Cuban strategy of confrontation “to the new coronavirus.
Of the 224 cases reported in the last day, 123 are autochthonous, 101 imported and in the remaining 14 the source of infection was not determined.
3,312 people remain admitted to Cuban hospitals: 1,761 active cases (eight in critical condition and 14 serious), 742 suspects and 809 in epidemiological surveillance.
By provinces, the western Matanzas with 51 cases (34 imported) today relieved Havana, which had been leading in incidence for weeks and this day reported 33 new infections. They are followed by the eastern Guantánamo (33) and the central Villa Clara (23).
Almost all of Cuba entered a “new normal” stage since last October 12 that allows the total activation of services and economic activities, although health measures such as the mandatory use of a mask and the limitation of capacity are maintained.
However, due to the outbreaks, the authorities decreed on Monday the retreat of several provinces from the “new normal” to one of the three de-escalation phases.

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