The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Protests in Cuba: to lower tension, the government already allows more food and medicine imports

2021-07-19T18:16:03.123Z


Diagnostic devices and biosensors, sanitary masks or to administer oxygen, among other products, are authorized.


07/19/2021 2:49 PM

  • Clarín.com

  • World

Updated 07/19/2021 2:49 PM

The General Customs of the Republic of Cuba began to apply a government measure

that authorizes until December 31 imports of food and medicine

by travelers from abroad "without value limits and exempt from paying tariffs."

The official approval for these entries into the country was announced by the authorities

hours after the protests that took place in various locations since Sunday, July 11

.

The Official Gazette published in this regard a resolution of the Ministry of Finance and Prices which includes the rules for these imports, among others that lack "commercial character."

"These are

provisions to alleviate the shortage of these and other products

in the country conditioned by the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, which has worsened even more despite the complex global health panorama as a consequence of the pandemic of the Covid-19 "clarifies the resolution.

Thus

is "no temporary effect"

permanent Cuban rules to respect entitled "Limits for determining the commercial character to imports by natural persons by any route, and general interpretative notes for its implementation" issued in June 2014.

A man walks down a street with buckets of eggs in Havana.

Photo EFE

This regulation

limits the quantities of each merchandise that travelers bring

to the country.

It was warned that travelers should take into account in their imports international regulations for products that cannot enter through the borders, including drugs or medicines with these effects.

Diagnostic devices for analysis and biosensors, disposable sanitary masks, masks to administer oxygen, scalpel blades and handles, gloves, syringes and other items related to the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic are authorized.

The goods included are scarce on the island.

The pandemic

Cuba

reported 6,505 infections and 61

more

deaths

in 24 hours from the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which added 288,392 cases and 1,966 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic on the island.

"These are very high figures

and show the complexity of the epidemiological situation in the country," said Francisco Durán, National Director of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health.

Government supporters march through Havana last week.

Photo EFE

According to the report,

34,575 people

receive medical care in health institutions and isolation centers in the country, while the last day there were 10,481 medical discharges and 307 patients remain in intensive care rooms due to COVID-19.

In Cuba, health intervention continues in the territories

with the highest incidence rates in the transmission of the virus.

Durán highlighted in this context the importance of

reinforcing restrictive measures

due to the health emergency.

He said that high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and obesity are

among the most frequent comorbidities

related to deaths from the new coronavirus in the nation.

The Cuban official explained that of the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the last day,

33 had as a source of infection abroad.

The province of Matanzas

(west), the current epicenter of the pandemic on the island, reported another 1,732 cases on the last day, followed by Ciego de Avila (909), Havana (760) and Santiago de Cuba (462).

Regarding the vaccination process against COVID-19, in the Caribbean nation

more than 8.2 million doses of

nationally produced

vaccines

have been

administered

and more than 3.3 million people have received at least one dose of one of the Cuban vaccine candidates.

Source: ANSA and Xinhua

PB

Look also

Pope Francis and the word "dialogue": A gesture to get involved in the crisis that is shaking Cuba?

One week after the protests in Cuba: Can the marches against the government be repeated?

Source: clarin

All news articles on 2021-07-19

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.