Science

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 22 (ACN) Cuba studied a total of 28,883 samples for surveillance during the day, resulting in 1,476 positive. The country accumulates 10, 303,786 samples taken and 943,388 positive.At the end of October 21, 19,198 patients were admitted, 11,341 suspected, 1,819 under surveillance and 6,38 confirmed active.Of the total number of cases, 1,464 were contacts of confirmed cases; 9 with source of infection abroad and 3 without source of infection. There were 1,810 medical discharges, 928,790 patients recovered (98.5%) and 20 people died. A total of 172 confirmed patients (66 critical and 106 severe) are being treated in ICUs.Among the 1,476 positive cases, 11.4% (169) were asymptomatic, totaling 130,61, which represents 13.8% of those confirmed to date. The diagnosed cases belong to the following age groups: under 20 years of age (268), 20 to 39 (331), 40 to 59 (503) and over 60 (374).

ARTEMISA, Cuba, Oct 20 (ACN) The number of COVID-19 cases in the province of Artemisa dropped in the first half of October, compared to the previous month, a fact revealing of the importance of compliance with the health protocols to avoid the resurgence of the disease.Yanelis Amador Borrego, general director of public health in the province, met Tuesday with local leaders and officials to discuss the latest figures and the measures in place to control COVID-19 transmission in a region where 42 people have died, most of whom had pre-existing conditions or were advanced in years. So far this year, the province has registered 40,238 cases (284 of them imported), many more than the 723 infections reported in 2020. Hence the need to keep taking care of ourselves and not to believe that the pandemic is already under control, she remarked.Dr. Amador Borrego also pointed out that the fight against COVID-19 reduced the province’s capacity to fight arbovirosis, but it is time to resume this struggle now that dengue is proliferating across the region, where the Aedes Aegyti mosquito is being detected more frequently as a result of broken water pipes, increasing grassing and neglected accumulation of water in containers, tires and other items left outdoors.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 19 (ACN) In Cuba, 98.3 % of the patients positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, have completely recovered, according to a press conference held today by the ministry of public health (MINSAP by its Spanish acronym).”We are advancing towards a control of the disease”, affirmed the national director of epidemiology of MINSAP, Francisco Duran, although he insisted on the need to continue complying with the sanitary measures and protocols to avoid pandemic outbreaks in the country.According to the expert, the country also reported the lowest number of autochthonous cases in the last three months, reporting 1,745 cases in this indicator.Duran lamented the death of 22 people on Monday and reiterated that the main comorbidities continue being high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and chronic renal and cardiac insufficiency.The incidence rate of confirmed cases in the last 15 days continues decreasing in the country, he remarked.Of the 7,684 active cases, 97% (461) show a stable clinical evolution, while 80 patients are in critical condition and 143 in serious, the specialist concluded.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 19 (ACN) Lena Lopez Ambron, head of the Immunization program of the ministry of public health ( MINSAP by its Spanish acronym) at a press conference in Havana reported that 86.9% of the Cuban population has already received the first dose of some immunogen.The expert also explained that a total of 37,721 pregnant women have been vaccinated and 54,974 nursing mothers have completed the vaccination program.She referred that Cuba is the first country to vaccinate the two to 18 year-old population and as of today 93% of the pediatric population has already had a first dose.According to the specialist, November 1st will be the first day of the flu vaccination for vulnerable groups and the same month health workers will receive a reinforcement dose to increase their protection against COVID-19.In her presentation, Lopez Ambron emphasized that among the Minsap’s plans, it is expected that the anti-COVID-19 vaccine candidates Soberana 01 and Mambisa will conclude their studies and can be turned into vaccines.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 19 (ACN) Cuba studied a total of 22,152 samples for surveillance during the day, resulting in 1,768 positive. The country accumulates 10, 222,153 samples taken and 938,577 positive.At the end of October 18, 22,693 patients were admitted, 13,295 suspected, 1,714 under surveillance and 7,684 confirmed active.Of the total number of cases, 1,743 were contacts of confirmed cases; 23 with a source of infection abroad and 2 with no source of infection determined. A total of 2,323 patients were discharged, 922,735 patients recovered (98.3%) and 22 people died. There were 223 confirmed patients in ICUs, of whom 80 were critical and 143 severe.Among the 1,768 positive cases, 10.2% (181) were asymptomatic, and a total of 129,669 cases were diagnosed, representing 13.8% of those confirmed to date. The diagnosed cases belong to the following age groups: under 20 years of age (385), 20 to 39 (382), 40 to 59 (543) and over 60 (458).

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 18 (ACN) Cuba studied a total of 27,329 samples to detect COVID 19, resulting in 1,844 positive. The country accumulates 10, 200,001 million samples taken and 936,809 positive.At the end of October 17, 24,352 patients were admitted, 14,375 suspected, 1,716 under surveillance and 8,261 confirmed active.Of the total number of cases, 1,843 were contacts of confirmed cases; 1 with source of infection abroad and 0 without source of infection. There were 2,245 discharges, 920,412 patients recovered (98.2%) and 21 people died. In intensive care units, 241 confirmed patients are being treated, 85 of them critical and 156 severe.Among the 1,844 positive cases, 10.5% (194) were asymptomatic, accumulating a total of 129,488, representing 13.8% of those confirmed to date, and the diagnosed cases belong to the following age groups: under 20 years of age (377), 20 to 39 (402), 40 to 59 (553) and over 60 (512).

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 18 (ACN) The prevalence of high-level Cuban women professionals is so evident that in less than a month a group of them received international and national awards for the results of their scientific research.Two of them were granted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the first of them, on September 30, to María Guadalupe Guzmán Tirado, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Science and Master in Virology.The international organization announced that it conferred the L’Oréal-UNESCO International Prize (foundation) for Women in Science to Guzmán Tirado, director of the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine Research Center (IPK).The award was in recognition of her pioneering work to better understand and treat dengue or tropical flu, a disease that mainly affects intertropical areas and infects between 50 and 100 million people worldwide each year.UNESCO added that the mutual recognition only goes to five eminent scientists with exceptional careers, from the five regions of the world in its 24th edition, and this time in the category of Life and Environmental Sciences.In October, UNESCO and the French company L’Oréal also honored Gladys Gutiérrez Bugallo, PhD, with the 15th edition of the Young Talent Award for Women in Science.Gutiérrez Bugallo serves at the IPK, in its Vector Control Department, and has made outstanding contributions to research in neuroendocrinology, cognitive neuroscience and disease transmission. Her colleague, Hilda Garay Pérez, PhD in Chemical Sciences, won the Latin American Women in Chemistry 2021 Award, granted by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Latin American Federation of Chemical Associations (FLAQ).Garay Pérez was awarded in the category of Industrial Leader in the chemical, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, whose research and innovations have led to discoveries that benefit society. She is in charge of the Synthetic Peptides Group at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB).Furthermore, Doctor of Science Marta Ayala Avila, General Director of the CIGB, received the Honorary Title of Heroine of Labor.Ayala Ávila, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, is part of a great team that in these months of pandemic turned interferons and Jusvinza peptide into part of the fight against COVID-19.Also recognized were Dr. Dagmar García Rivera, head of Research at the Finlay Vaccine Institute; Dr. Belinda Sánchez Ramírez, an expert on Tumor Immunology with the Center for Molecular Immunology; and Tammy Boggiano Ayo, of the Development Division at the same institution.In the case of the National Assembly of People’s Power, this fact is obvious: since 2018, 53.2% of the deputies are women. Cuba has the second Parliament in the world with the highest number of women, only surpassed by Rwanda (61.3%).

Havana, Oct 14 (ACN) The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean—ECLAC—and the Pan-American Health Organization—PAHO—called on Latin American and Caribbean governments to step up COVID-19 vaccination, transform health systems, increase public investment and consolidate the well-being of the people, among other measures to control the sanitary crisis in the short term.In a report entitled “The prolongation of the health crisis and its impact on health, the economy and social development,” ECLAC and PAHO called to a recovery marked by equality and environmental sustainability in tune with the Sustainable Development Goals. https://iris.paho.org/bitstream/handle/10665.2/54991/eclacpahoreport2021_eng.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y The pandemic has revealed the need to build a public health agenda with an integral perspective for Latin America and the Caribbean, which recognizes the inter-dependence between sanitary, social, economic and environmental dimensions, the reports stresses.As an average, 39 percent of the population in the region has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while countries like Chile and Uruguay have vaccinated 70 percent of their populations, 25 out of all 49 regional nations and territories have not yet surpassed 40 percent of their citizens fully vaccinated.The regional organizations also called to foster technological achievements in the field of health and sustainable development; step up digital transformation processes, keep up expansive tax policies and strengthen public investment to advance towards recovery.You can read the full report here: https://iris.paho.org/bitstream/handle/10665.2/54991/eclacpahoreport2021_eng.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

Havana, Oct 14 (ACN) a total of 58.1 percent of the Cuban population has already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with the locally developed vaccines.According to the Cuban Health Ministry, six million 500 thousand 743 citizens have received all three shots of the homegrown vaccines up to October 12.Meanwhile, over 9.6 million have at least received one shot of the vaccines including convalescents and over 7.4 million have received two doses.In all the country has already administered 23 million 397 thousand 552 doses of the locally developed Abdala, Sobrena 02 and Soberana Plus vaccines.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 14 (ACN) National Director of Epidemiology Dr. Francisco Durán, García said today that a sudden drop of COVID-19 transmission levels should not be expected despite the progress in its control.His clarification came in reference to the number of new cases—2,364, four of them imported—which, unlike the last few days, increased moderately with respect to the previous day.Dr. García offered his condolences to the families and friends of the 38 people who died yesterday and reported that their main underlying issues were arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and obesity.Cuba’s death toll since the onset of the epidemic amounts to 7,994, for a 0.86% lethality rate.The Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) report indicates that 487 of the patients are 18 or younger, including 26 children under one year of age and 16 under six months.Of the 11,591 patients admitted in hospitals, 292 are in intensive care units, in either critical (89) or serious (203) condition.Regarding the vaccination process, MINSAP specified that up to October 12, 6,500,743 Cubans have finished the full vaccination schedule with the national immunogens Soberana 02, Soberana Plus and Abdala, and 23,397,552 doses have been administered.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 13 (ACN) The charts depicting forecast models of the behavior of the COVID-19 epidemic in Cuba between March 2020 and March 2022 shows that we are already going downhill and overcoming the explosion of confirmed cases, and that the figures will continue to show a downward trend.This was stated Tuesday by Dr. C. Raul Guinovart Diaz, dean of the School of Mathematics and Computer Science of the University of Havana, who opened the meeting of experts and scientists engaged in scientific and technological innovation activities to cope with the new coronavirus, attended by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz.”The decline will be slow, although for those in hospital the curve is rapidly declining,” said the expert. “By the end of the year we would have a situation more or less similar to October and November last year”.According to the mathematician, all provinces seem to be in control of the disease, even those with the highest rates of transmission. As to the death toll, the numbers are reaching a plateau nationwide. He drew attention on provinces that have managed to reduce the number of cases but not the lethality. In this regard, he said: “It is necessary to investigate the causes to lower (the levels of) incidence, but it is also important that people do not die.”Guinovart praised the high levels of recovery among COVID-19 patients in Cuba: “The figure,” he emphasized, “represents a tremendous effort.” And at that point of the meeting, President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez recalled that it’s 97.5% of the total number of cases, whereas in the world it is 90.46% and in the Americas 85.3%.“This says a lot about the quality of the medical care process,” said Guinovart, “but also about the whole vaccination process and the quality of the vaccines, which have saved many people. Otherwise, at the current pace of the disease, we would be talking today about 300,000 additional cases, or perhaps more, and 3,000 more people could have died. And the number of hospital patients would have been extremely high.”Other voices of scienceThe meeting also addressed the variants of CoV-2 SARs circulating in Cuba, a topic presented by Dr. Sc. Guadalupe Guzmán Tirado.“Last year,” she said, “Cuba had the D614G variant, the one that prevailed around the world and the first we had in our country. However, other strains appeared in the late 2020. By ‘variant’ we mean that the virus undergoes changes, and when a series of mutations accumulate it is still the same virus but it is not exactly the original one; and in most cases those changes have no effects, but some of them can pave the way for greater transmission and more serious symptoms or render a vaccine useless.”January 2021 brought other variants and, up to September, she said, we have had some 17 of them in Cuba. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes four ‘variants of concern’, namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta.Alpha infected people in Cuba, but it’s not the main “variant of concern” in the Island. Beta, on the other hand, caused the peak in April. And by the end of May, Delta was detected, the most contagious one worldwide.”Delta,” Dr. Guzmán remarked, “began circulating gradually but has taken hold. (…) There are still others (…) but Delta is the prevailing one.”The forecast models have it that Delta will keep circulating around the country at least until December.Dr. Sc. Rolando Perez Rodriguez presented at the meeting a draft Strategy for the administration of booster doses with SARS CoV2 vaccines and highlighted their safety, efficacy and effectiveness, as well as the preliminary evidence of increased immune response with a booster dose administered along with Abdala, Soberana Plus and Soberana 01.A second meeting followed, that of the Temporary Working Group of the Government for the fight against COVID-19, headed by President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz and Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa, who exchanged views about the epidemiological situation and the availability of oxygen with all provincial leaders through a videoconference.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 13 (ACN) Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, today awarded the honorary title of “Hero of Labor of the Republic of Cuba” to 10 eminent Cuban scientists.Gerardo Enrique Guillén Nieto, Eulogio Pimentel Vázquez, Marta Ayala Ávila, Vicente Guillermo Vérez Bencomo, Yury Valdés Balbín, Dagmar García Rivera, Belinda Sánchez Ramírez, Tammy Boggiano Ayo, Eduardo Ojito Magaz and Lorenzo Jorge Pérez Ávila were distinguished, in this capital, for their valuable contributions to Cuban science and especially for the work to produce the anti-COVID-19 vaccines.From the hands of Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister of the Republic, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, and Aylín Álvarez García, first secretary of the Communist Youth Union, 47 Cuban researchers also received the first degree Lazaro Peña Order for their outstanding participation in the confrontation of COVID-19 and the production of vaccine candidates, three of them patented as vaccines.Doctor in Sciences Marta Ayala Ávila, general director of the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), pointed out to the press that those who received the distinction belong to a great team that in these months of pandemic turned the interferons and the Jusvinza peptide into part of the fight against SARS-CoV-2.They worked in a very united manner to achieve the vaccine candidates, shortening the times, rigorously fulfilling each step and banishing administrative barriers, which is why I consider the CIGB collective to be heroic.For his part, Yury Valdés Balbín, deputy director of the Finlay Vaccine Institute, also acknowledged that this honorary title is received on behalf of many young and experienced researchers who joined the call of the homeland to bring health to our people, which makes us happier.For Dr. Belinda Sánchez Ramírez, director of Tumor Immunology at the Center for Molecular Immunology, this is the work of Fidel, because if Cuba had not had a mature biotechnology like Cuba’s in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, it would not have been possible to respond so quickly and have its own vaccines.At 76 years of age, Lorenzo Jorge Pérez Ávila, researcher and consulting professor at the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine, said he was satisfied and proud to receive the distinction that encourages him to continue working for the Revolution and the people, after more than 50 years dedicated to medicine and the fight against infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, dengue, zika, cholera and Ebola.

Havana, Oct 12 (ACN) Cuba is witnessing a fall in the rate of COVID-19 cases with the best results in the territories where the current vaccination program first kicked off, said Cuban Health Minister Jose Angel Portal.During a press conference in Havana, Minister Portal said that a larger fall in the number of cases is expected to occur in November and this will allow the opening of the country’s borders given the fast pace of vaccination with some 90 percent of the population expected to be fully immunized by the end of next month.As of November 15, the country will modify current protocols, though all airports will operate under protection measures, such as temperature check and social distancing, while local authorities will accept vaccination certificates.Meanwhile, the minister noted that Cuba has been the only nation in the world which has vaccinated its children in a massive campaign and will also be the first to resume the school year with all children immunized against COVID-19.

Havana, Oct 12 (ACN) The local production of COVID-19 vaccines allowed the country to count on all necessary doses by September to immunize all the people in 2021.The statement was made by the president of BioCubaFarma Biotech conglomerate Eduardo Martinez during a press conference on Tuesday in which he underscored the results of the Cuban COVID-19 vaccination program.If the local vaccine production had not taken place, the country would have had to use 300 million dollars to purchase those products, Martinez noted and added that at present all Cuban vaccine plants are producing at full capacity under established international standards and supplying vaccines to other nations of the world.The executive announced the upcoming opening of other vaccine production plants in a biotech compound in the Mariel Special Development Zone, west of Havana, which will meet accords reached with Iran, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Vietnam, as well as other countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia.Martinez also said that approval process of the Cuban vaccines by the World Health Organization is well underway with recent evidence-handover meetings proving the efficacy y and effectiveness of the Cuban products so other records will soon be submitted to the international organization.However, he said that the commercialization and use of the Cuban vaccines in other nations do not necessarily needs the approval of the World Health Organization; such approval is needed to distribute the vaccines by international agencies.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 12 (ACN) Cuba studied a total of 27,134 samples for surveillance during the day, resulting in 2,638 positive results. The country accumulates 10, 021,878 samples taken and 923,966 positive.At the end of October 11, 37,258 patients were admitted, 19,361 suspected, 2,613 under surveillance and 15,284 confirmed active.Of the total number of cases, 2,617 were contacts of confirmed cases; 14 with source of infection abroad and 7 without source of infection determined. There were 3,461 discharges, 900,697 patients recovered (97.4%) and 37 people died. In ICUs, a total of 311 confirmed patients are being treated, 88 are critical and 223 are severe.Among the 2,638 positive cases, 8.91% (235) were asymptomatic, accumulating a total of 128,598, representing 14.0% of those confirmed to date, and the diagnosed cases belong to the following age groups: under 20 years of age (611), 20 to 39 (577), 40 to 59 (781) and over 60 (669).

HAVANA, Cuba,Oct 8 (ACN) Cuba studied a total of 40,431 samples for detecting COVID 19, resulting in 3,396 positive results. The country accumulates 9, 886,114 samples taken and 911,337 positive.At the end of October 7, 46,793 patients were admitted, 24,582 suspected, 2,718 under surveillance and 19,493 confirmed active.Of the total number of cases, 3,384 were contacts of confirmed cases; 10 with source of infection abroad and 2 without source of infection determined. There were 4,016 discharges, 884,010 patients recovered (97%) and 35 people died. In ICUs, a total of 320 confirmed patients are being treated, 91 of them critical and 229 severe.Among the 3,396 positive cases, 4.65% (158) were asymptomatic, accumulating a total of 127,804, representing 14.0% of those confirmed to date, and the diagnosed cases belong to the following age groups: under 20 years of age (638), 20 to 39 (855), 40 to 59 (1,105) and over 60 (798).

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 7 (ACN) Cuba reported today 3,833 new COVID-19 cases, 39 deaths, and 4,530 medical discharges.Up until yesterday, 20,148 people remain hospitalized, 327 of them in intensive care units—98 and 229 in critical and serious condition, respectively, according to the daily report of the Ministry of Public Health.At the close of yesterday, October 5, 48,818 patients had been admitted and 25,948 were suspected cases, whereas 2,722 were under surveillance and 20,148 were confirmed cases.A total of 42,344 samples were taken during the day, and 3,833 tested positive. Cuba has taken 9,845,683 samples, and 907,941 have been confirmed as positive.Of the 3,833 positive cases, 6.3% (242) were asymptomatic, making a total of 127,646 cases (14.1% of those confirmed to date).

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 6 (ACN) Cuba reported today 3,596 new COVID-19 cases, 40 deaths, and 4,965 medical discharges.Up until yesterday, 20,884 people remain hospitalized, 349 of them in intensive care units—113 and 236 in critical and serious condition, respectively, according to the daily report of the Ministry of Public Health.At the close of yesterday, October 5, 50,581 patients had been admitted and 26,955 were suspected cases, whereas 2,742 were under surveillance and 20,884 were confirmed cases.A total of 38,066 samples were taken during the day, and 3,596 tested positive. Cuba has taken 9,803,339 samples, and 904,108 of them have been confirmed as positive.Of the 3,596 positive cases, 5.1% (183) were asymptomatic, making a total of 127,404 cases (14.1% of those confirmed to date).

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct. 6 (ACN) Cuba reported today the lowest number of COVID-19 cases since July 5 this year, by registering 3,596 new cases.At a press conference it was reported that 24 of the new infected are imported and 3,572 are autochthonous, the lowest figure in the last 15 days. There were 4,985 medical discharges yesterday and, regrettably, 40 patients died.According to Francisco Durán García, national director of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health, yesterday’s figures reveal a downward trend in the rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 inhabitants throughout the country, except in the province of Las Tunas.Since March 2020, 904,108 Cubans have tested positive to the virus—9.2% of the infections—whereas 20,884 patients are still in hospital.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 5 (ACN) With the aim of continuing the integral development of medical cooperation between Cuba and the Congo, the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, and the head of Higher Education of that African nation, Edith Delphine Emmanuel Adouki, exchanged tthis Tuesday on the training of medical professionals and the Cuban vaccines against COVID-19.Portal Miranda highlighted the effort of his nation to develop and produce its own three vaccines against the disease that causes SARS-CoV-2-Abdala, Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus-, which could also serve as support to other countries in their immunization campaigns.The country currently has 97 percent of its population with a dose of its own vaccines and already more than 50 percent of Cubans have the complete three-dose scheme.Mrs Adouki praised Cuba’s efforts to create its own anti-COVID-19 vaccines and stressed the possibility that in the future her country could benefit from these immunogens.Regarding the professional training of Congolese students in Cuba, Portal Miranda assured that they have received an adequate academic preparation in the different institutions of medical sciences in which they study, spread throughout the national territory.One of the real strengths of our health system, he said, is its network of medical universities, which make it possible to train the human resources we need for the national system and make it possible for countries that need it to train their professionals, with an education based on the quality of knowledge and humanistic vocation.Collaboration in the field of health between Cuba and the Congo is reflected today in several programs, as is the case of the Integral Health Program, with 11 collaborators working in that Central African nation.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 5 (ACN) José Ángel Portal Miranda, Minister of Public Health, said that progress in the containment of the new coronavirus cannot become a justification for neglecting the hygienic-sanitary measures established in the island.In a publication in Facebook, the minister pointed out that September could mean a favorable turning point in the current epidemiological situation in the country, with the confirmation of 48,108 positive cases of COVID-19 less than in August.However, he specified that although the numbers show progress in the control of the transmission of the disease in most of the provinces, this does not constitute a reason to think that we have overcome the worst moment of the epidemic.He recalled that the regression in the control of the infection, manifested in some territories, shows that when the designed actions are not complied with, the consequences are almost always unfortunate for the families.The Minister pointed out that in spite of the progress made in reducing the number of people infected with SARS-CoV-2, Pinar del Río, Sancti Spiritus, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Artemisa, Mayabeque and Villa Clara had high incidence rates of the disease, which placed those territories among the highest in the country.”The danger, as we have reiterated on numerous occasions, continues to be latent,” warned the highest authority of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) and highlighted as a positive element that the downward trend of confirmed cases during the ninth month of the year has been maintained in the days that have elapsed in October.According to the Minister, the progression in the control of COVID-19 is related to the fact that the vaccination campaign in the Caribbean nation began last month in pediatric ages, which is progressing satisfactorily, as well as the immunization of those allergic to thiomersal and those convalescing from the disease.The Cuban health minister concluded that the gradual opening of the country and the return to the classrooms of the youngest is a new challenge for society, which requires the support and participation of everyone to gradually resume daily life.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 4 (ACN) Donations made by the Italian project “For a Hug”, an initiative promoted by the National Association of Italy-Cuba Friendship, in collaboration with the record company Egrem, will arrive in Cuba Monday.According to the Cuban foreign ministry’s website Cubaminrex, this donation is the first of several shipments, obtained through purchases and deliveries made by hospitals and companies of the European nation.Cubaminrex noted that the airline Neos, based in Somma Lombardo, and the Cuban embassy to Italy reiterated their willingness to deliver the solidarity cargo to the island.”For a Hug” intends to reciprocate to the Cuban people part of the generous aid deployed last year by the medical brigades of the Henry Reeve contingent, whose professionals saved lives in the city of Crema.The project is also intended to serve as a cultural bridge between Cuban creators and Italian musicians, who will participate in different shows starting in December, along with other renowned associations such as Timbalaye and ARCI.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 5(ACN) Cuba studied a total of 33,290 samples for surveillance during the day, resulting in 4,793 positive results. The country accumulates 9,765,273 samples taken and 900, 512 positive.At the end of October 4, 52,550 patients were admitted, 27,296 suspected, 2,961 under surveillance and 22,293 confirmed active.Of the total number of cases 4,761 were contacts of confirmed cases; 19 with a source of infection abroad and 13 without a precise source of infection . There were 5,511 discharges, 870,499 patients recovered (96.7%) and 45 people died. In the intensive care unit, 326 confirmed patients are being treated, including 100 critically ill and 226 seriously ill patients.Of the 4,793 positive cases, 2.7% (128) were asymptomatic, totaling 127,221, which represents 20.0% of those confirmed to date. The diagnosed cases belong to the following age groups: under 20 years of age (897), 20 to 39 (1053), 40 to 59 (1529) and over 60 (1314).

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 4 (ACN) Cuba continues its anti-COVID-19 vaccination process and has already administered more than 21.5 million anti-COVID-19 doses.The Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP by its Spanish acronym) reported today that by the end of October 2, 21, 516,690 doses of the Cuban vaccines Soberana 02, Soberana Plus and Abdala had been administered in the country.MINSAP states that 9, 494,757,000 people have already received at least one dose of one of the immunogens; 6,787,553 people have received a second dose and 5,234,380 a third one. The health authority noted in its daily report that 5,458,190 people are fully vaccinated, which represents 48.8 % of the Cuban population.With the mass vaccination, 11, 183,350 doses have been administered to the population over 19 years of age in territories with epidemiological risk and risk groups in all provinces, as well as to the pediatric population from two to 18 years of age throughout the country.As for the health intervention initiated last May, health workers, BioCubaFarma workers, students of Medical Sciences and other groups and population of at-risk territories, have received a total of 9,612,810 doses.Related to the intervention study and clinical trials, 454, 064 and 266, 466 doses have been administered, respectively.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 4 (ACN) Cuba studied a total of 40,644 samples to detect COVID 19, resulting in 4,272 positive results. The country accumulates 9, 731,983 samples taken and 895,719 positive.At the end of October 3, 55,656 patients were admitted, 29,523 suspected, 3,077 under surveillance and 23,056 confirmed active.Of the total number of cases, 4,254 were contacts of confirmed cases; 12 with source of infection abroad and 6 without source of infection determined. There were 5,010 discharges, 864,988 patients recovered (96.5%) and 38 people died. In intensive care units, 357 confirmed patients are being treated, including 106 in critical and 251 in severe condition.Among the 4,272 positive cases, 3.8% (161) were asymptomatic, accumulating a total of 127,093, which represents 14.2% of those confirmed to date, and the diagnosed cases belong to the following age groups: under 20 years of age (889), 20 to 39 (1,034), 40 to 59 (1,323) and over 60 (1,026).

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 4 (ACN) Cuba regretted today the death of 38 people from COVID-19, a figure that is the lowest in several months, said Dr. Francisco Duran Garcia, national director of epidemiology of the ministry of public health ( MINSAP by its Spanish acronym).Duran Garcia pointed out that there are even eight deaths less than those reported yesterday, and specified that there are 7,618 fatalities due to the pandemic in the country, with a lethality rate of 0.85 %, compared to 2.04 % in the world and 2.45 % in the Americas.The expert detailed during the daily briefing on the epidemiological situation, that of the 38 deaths reported on Monday, three are under 60 years of age and two had no known history of disease.Regarding the resumption of the school year Monday in person, he insisted on the need that, regardless of the vaccination, the distancing measures, the use of masks and disinfectant solutions should be complied with.The vaccines prevent the evolution towards seriousness and death, but they do not prevent you from becoming infected, therefore all the measures must be maintained, the expert concluded.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 1 (ACN) Cuba has reached a total of 21, 004,660 doses administered with the Cuban anti-COVID-19 vaccines Soberana 02, Soberana Plus and Abdala.The Ministry of Public Health ( MINSAP by its Spanish acronym) reports today that by the end of September 29, 9,331,789 people had received at least one dose of Soberana 02, Soberana Plus and Abdala.Of these, Minsap assures, 6, 598,983 people have already received the second dose and 5,073,888 people have received the third one.In its daily report, the health authority reports that 5, 255,926 people have already been fully vaccinated, this represents 47 % of the Cuban population.With the mass vaccination, 10, 811,402 doses have been administered to the population over 19 years of age in epidemiologically at-risk territories and risk groups in all provinces, as well as to the pediatric population between two and 18 years of age throughout the country.As for the health intervention initiated last May, health workers, BioCubaFarma workers, students of Medical Sciences and other at-risk groups, in addition to the population of at-risk territories, have received a total of 9,591,383 doses; and 3,86,924 people are already fully vaccinated in this group.Associated with the intervention study and clinical trials, 452,511 and 149,364 doses have been administered, respectively.

Havana, Sept 30 (ACN) The Republic of Laos sent a donation of food and cleansing equipment to the Havana-based Frank Pais orthopedic hospital in an effort to support local efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic.This donation will help COVID-19 patients and the Cuban people who count on the admiration and affection of the people of Laos, said Anouphone Kittirath, ambassador of Laos to Cuba.Despite limitations, the shutdown of borders and the increase of COVID-19 cases no Cuban has remained helpless, said the ambassador and noted that “Here is Laos ready to give its hand as a proof of the friendship and affection that tie both nations,” said the diplomat.

GUANTÁNAMO, Cuba, Sep 30 (ACN) As the province of Guantánamo makes progress with the COVID-19 vaccines and works across the board to keep improving its epidemiological situation, a package of measures of flexibilization will be implemented starting Thursday, a step not to be seen as a relaxation of biosecurity, local political and governmental authorities insist.The first recently published provisions of the plan for the gradual restart of activities cover several sectors of the province’s socioeconomic life. Among the most important ones are those related to public transportation, food service operations, and urban mobility, among other measures.Emilio Matos Mosqueda, Governor of the province of Guantánamo, emphasized that this is not the new normal, but a gradual process to be undertaken without overlooking the sanitary protocols to avoid setbacks in the control of the pandemic, a goal whose success will depend on individual and collective discipline and responsibility, as the danger of new outbreaks has not disappeared.These measures were approved taking into account that the number of cases is on a downward trend as a result of the efforts to curb contagion, the effectiveness of the health protocols, and the progress of the immunization program, since more than 90% of the population has already received at least one dose, and more than half the Cubans have been administered all the doses.This situation also favors the long-awaited resumption of the 2020-2021 school year on October 4.In the latest meeting of the Provincial Council of Government, a call was made to re-launch the economy without neglecting the health controls and to increase food production, construction work and energy saving.The subject was also addressed by the Temporary Group for the fight against COVID-19, which urged people to be mindful of social distancing and remain aware of the risk of infection.

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 30 (ACN) Cuba reported today 5,003 new positive cases of COVID-19, which reveals that the number of infections has been gradually dropping in the last four days.Dr. Francisco Durán García, national director of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), said that 46,821 samples were processed, and noted that there were 614 fewer cases than the previous day.“Some indicators are undoubtedly improving, although others are still somewhat high, as in the case of the number of deaths,” he stressed during his usual daily press conference, “as 58 people passed away yesterday.”As to the spread of the pandemic by provinces and regions, western Cuba is still the hardest hit, if with fewer cases. Meanwhile, 7,436 patients were discharged from hospital, a figure that exceeds by 2,121 the number of positive cases reported the previous day.Until yesterday, 401 patients were in intensive care, 105 reported in critical condition and 296 in serious condition.Since the first COVID-19 cases in Cuba were reported in March 2020, the country has had 877,428 confirmed cases and suffered a death toll amounting to 7,436.