Cuba is currently the country with the fourth-highest rate of COVID-19 infections per person globally.
What We Know:
- As of right now, almost 100,000 Cubans have been hospitalized because they tested positive or because doctors suspected they contacted the virus. Due to the out-of-control situation, Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel made a rare statement in which he admitted defeat. Díaz-Canel declared the country met its limits in providing quality healthcare to patients.
“We are at the limit of the capacities we have of infrastructure, resources, medicines, and oxygen,” said Díaz-Canel.
- On the week of Aug. 13, Cuba reached a positivity rate higher than 20 percent. In addition, the island saw over 89,000 COVID-19 cases and 839 deaths in the first ten days of the month. Dr. Ciro Ugarte, director for health emergencies at the Pan American Health Organization, said controlling the situation will be difficult because the country lacks supplies essential to fighting the coronavirus. They also do not hold the necessary medical supplies to combat any health issue in the country.
- Although U.S. President Joe Biden initially said he would only consider sending Cuba vaccinations if international organizations distributed them, the Miami Herald reported that he is rethinking his stance. A State Department‘s spokesperson told the Herald the U.S. is willing to provide “a significant number of vaccines.” However, the U.S. will only do so if they know “average Cubans” can easily access the medication, referencing the interference of international organizations.
“We share the people of Cuba’s concern about an exponential rise in COVID-19 cases… Cuba has made a sovereign decision on how it will address the pandemic… However, Cuba could always decide to receive outside vaccine donations,” the spokesperson stated.
- Furthermore, the Biden Administration is expediting requests to send humanitarian and medical supplies to Cuba. The administration also authorized charter flights carrying humanitarian aid to fly to the island’s provinces.
- Despite America’s willingness to help islanders, the Cuban government rejects the offer to send vaccines. On Aug. 11, several Cuban scientists sent Biden a letter affirming the island did not need American vaccines.
Scientists also urged Biden to lift the embargo, as it prohibits selling supplies to Cuba’s biotech industry.
