Havana (AFP)

The Cuban government announced Wednesday a gradual reopening of tourism, commerce and public transportation after declaring the coronavirus epidemic under control.

The island of 11.2 million inhabitants has not recorded any death linked to the disease for eleven days and counted only five new cases on Wednesday, for a total of 2,211 cases including 83 deaths.

Now it will enter the post-Covid-19 recovery phase, which aims to return to the most normal conditions possible, "said President Miguel Diaz-Canel at a meeting of the Council of Ministers.

"The pandemic is under control," said the socialist leader on Saturday, promising future announcements on the deconfinement of the country.

During this new phase, "physical distance and the use of the mask in all activities" will remain mandatory.

Tourism, the driving force of the Cuban economy with 3.3 billion dollars in revenue in 2018, "will open initially only to local tourism then, secondly, to international tourism, gradually and in function demand, only in the cayos (small islands, editor's note) north and south of the Cuban archipelago ", specifies the state daily Granma.

No date for the resumption of international commercial flights has been communicated, but according to information published by the Cuban aeronautics industry, the reopening of the borders is not scheduled before August 1.

"The restrictions on entering and leaving the country are maintained," said Granma.

When the borders are reopened, foreign tourists will be tested on arrival and their temperature taken, while epidemiological surveillance will also be carried out in the hotels, where "occupancy will be limited, as will capacity in gastronomic services and recreational ".

In addition, "urban, inter-municipal and rural public transport, both public and private, will be restored to a limited extent," says Granma.

As for the schools, which have been closed since the end of March, they will reopen in September to end the 2019-2020 school year, the next one to start in November.

Museums will reopen but "activities involving a concentration of people, such as carnivals or other popular festivities, will not be allowed", cinemas and theaters must also remain closed.

© 2020 AFP