Maintaining social distancing, correctly using the facemask or washing hands regularly during the COVID-19 epidemic in Cuba, are now mandatory and legally supported, in accordance with resolution 128/20 published this week in the Gaceta Oficial.
According to the regulations, failure to comply with these and other sanitary measures―such as leaving home only when “strictly necessary”―“may generate administrative or criminal liability, as established by the corresponding authorities.”
The resolution issues “specific complementary” sanitary provisions for the current stage of prevention and control of the spread of COVID-19 in Cuban national territory.
It complements the measures approved in a previous resolution, number 82 of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) dated March 23 and published in the Gaceta Oficial Extraordinaria of April 9, which issued “sanitary, hygienic and epidemiological provisions for the organization and operation of health services and other public services and activities linked to the population in the face of the epidemiological emergency situation.”
According to the document, the new measures “will be in force until the epidemiological risk persists” and are “mandatory for individuals and legal entities, national and foreign.”
Its objective is “to prevent the spread of the disease and achieve epidemiological control to allow the safe functioning of society and the national economy.”
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As part of these measures, people must “stay in their homes or places of residence” and only “the family member with the lowest clinical-epidemiological risk” is designated to make “strictly necessary” outings, to purchase food, toiletries and medications.
And if “due to circumstances that cannot be postponed or due to the work functions of certain personnel,” someone else must leave the home, “the established sanitary measures must be observed permanently.”
Signed by Cuban Minister of Public Health José Ángel Portal, the resolution also establishes that people have the obligation to attend the closest health institution in case they present symptoms of COVID-19, or to find out if they are the contact of a confirmed coronavirus case.
Likewise, it imposes the obligation to offer truthful information to the health authorities, to carry out the treatment indicated by the doctor and comply with the corresponding hospitalization, as established by the health personnel.
The regulations also establish basic health provisions and specific protocols for the control of the epidemic and patient care, which are mandatory for the institutions.
In Cuba, health is a right of all people contained in the Magna Carta, which also establishes the responsibility of the State to guarantee access to free and quality healthcare, protection and recovery services.
Meanwhile, several legal provisions in force on the island establish that “in the face of exceptional situations caused by epidemics that imply serious and immediate risks to health, the Ministry of Public Health will issue mandatory health provisions aimed at limiting damage to human health, to control or interrupt the epidemiological chain in the transmission of diseases.”
Another day without deaths, 10 new infections and less hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Cuba
To date, Cuba has a total 1,840 confirmed new coronavirus cases and 79 deaths due to the disease.
This Thursday was another day without deaths from COVID-19 on the island. The new cases dropped to 10, while the number of hospitalized due to the pandemic also decreased, which is now 913.
However, faced by this favorable scenario, the health authorities have called not to let down the guard and take extreme measures to avoid an increase in the number of infections.
Here you can find the most current data and how the coronavirus curve is evolving in Cuba.
