Coronavirus in Cuba: the population relieved after the deconfinement of Havana

Audio 1:16

Text by: Domitille Piron

Havana reopens. Cuba operates its deconfinement with caution and always with some restrictions. Unlike its American neighbors where the coronavirus is still wreaking havoc, the Caribbean island considers the pandemic under control. The capital therefore began its deconfinement for the greatest relief of the Cubans.

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From our correspondent in Havana,

It is a feeling of freedom that has taken hold of the Malecon. The seafront, nicknamed "the Havana sofa", had been closed to the public for 3 months.

Here we come to get some fresh air, to walk and to fish too. William Gonzalez came at the reopening with his fishing rod, despite the overwhelming heat and with his mask still mandatory in Cuba.

"  You get used to it, " he said. But no one can bear it. I have only one desire is to go home to remove it and put myself in front of the fan.  "

This fisherman is not there to amuse himself, but to feed himself on the fruit of his fishing. The economic situation in Cuba is critical and the difficulties of importation increasing.

So the resumption of commercial activities and transportation is a relief.
José Puente, hardware seller, has found his stall on a private sector market. "  Yes, we are relieved to see that the city is reviving, but economically it remains very hard," he explains. Because our country lives on tourismand since there are no tourists yet we must continue to live on our savings and adapt.  "

► Read also: Coronavirus: timid recovery of tourism in Cuba

If we can now enjoy the Malecon and the beach in Havana, we still have to deal with the long queues to obtain products of basic necessities.

In the absence of foreign currency that international tourism brings, and with the tightening of the American embargo , the shortages are likely to continue despite the reopening.

In total, Cuba has 86 deaths in the past three months and just over 2,300 infections.

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• Cuba
• Coronavirus
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