The Minister of Public Health, Dr. José Angel Portal Miranda spoke today at the press conference that is usually broadcast at 11:00 a.m., to update on the situation of COVID-19 in the national territory and the world.
Portal Miranda characterized the national situation of this disease 28 days after the first cases were confirmed. To date, 457 cases have been confirmed, in which the male sex predominates, with 52.7% of these. The incidence rate that has been evidenced is 4.07 per 100,000 inhabitants, it has maintained a pattern of severe cases that reaches 8.1% of cases (37 cases), and a pattern of critical cases of 5% (23 cases). Twelve cases have died in Cuba for a case fatality of 2.6%.
60% of cases have occurred in patients between 25 and 59 years of age. The age group most affected by this disease was 55 to 59 years with 11.4% of cases, followed by 45 to 49 with 10.1%. Of the patients reported in serious condition, 62.1% are over 60 years old and 30.3% are between 40 and 60 years old.
Cases have been diagnosed in all the territories of the country, being the most affected territories: Havana (137 cases), Ciego de Ávila (48), Villa Clara (52), Matanzas (41), Santiago de Cuba (32), Sancti Spíritus (28), Pinar del Río (24) and Camagüey (21). Of the diagnosed patients, 422 are Cuban and 35 are foreigners. The latter from: France (7), Canada and China (5 each), Italy and Spain (4 each), Russia (3), the United States (2), Croatia, Colombia, Peru, Tanzania and Belgium (one each).
Of the 422 confirmed Cubans, 116 (27.5%) were infected in another country and 306 (72.5%) were infected in Cuba. Of these, 300 were contacts of foreigners, Cubans who returned from abroad or contacts of confirmed cases related to foreigners. Investigation of the source of infection in 6 cases is ongoing, so far.
To date, 6 local broadcast events have occurred in the country: Versailles People's Council of the Matanzas municipality, province of the same name; Camilo Cienfuegos community, Consolación del Sur municipality, Pinar del Río province; Carmelo popular council, Plaza de la Revolución municipality, Havana province; Florencia municipality, Ciego de Ávila province; Florida municipality, Camagüey province and Gibara municipality, Holguín province. Still evaluating other possible events.
As of yesterday night, it was reported that Cuba entered the limited indigenous transmission stage of COVID-19. In this regard, the Minister of Public Health explained the three phases and why it had been changed to a second phase:
• Pre-epidemic stage: Confirmed cases of travelers from affected countries or local cases closely linked to the former are reported. Limited local transmission may occur in close contacts.
• Limited indigenous transmission stage: Cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in which it has not been possible to establish a link with travelers from affected areas and they are limited to small conglomerates in localities or institutions in the country.
• Epidemic stage: Cases of COVID-19 are detected and confirmed in which no link is established with travelers, they appear in different localities of the national territory and occur in a sustained manner. Community broadcast appears. Cases of infected people in which no epidemiological link can be established with an “imported or index” case or a “secondary” case.
Therefore, after the change of stage, measures related to it are implemented:
• Increase virological diagnosis by molecular biology in laboratories.
• 100% of suspected patients and direct contacts will be diagnosed for COVID-19.
• Apply full quarantine (14 days) in internal educational and sports institutions, military units, prisons and closed units in the event of a diagnosed case of the disease.
• In other centers of concentration of people such as hotels, public buildings, work centers, focus control actions will be carried out and isolation measures will be adopted taking into account the epidemiological situation.
The Minister of Health explained that new measures will be reported later, and that the measures taken in the previous phase are maintained.
Portal Miranda made a call to denounce the inappropriate behaviors: "we are facing a virus that can be transmitted even without people presenting symptoms and there is the greatest risk".
The Minister of Health reported that to date there are 25 health workers who are confirmed to COVID-19, although these cases have been reported in the daily reports. Of them 14 are doctors, 8 are nurses, 2 are technicians and one of them is an ambulance driver. The Minister explained that many of these cases were infected by out-of-hospital infection, as well as from the management of non-suspicious cases. Of the 25 confirmed cases, one is reported in critical condition. The most significant events have been reported in the "Calixto García" Hospital and the "Manuel Fajardo" Hospital in Havana, the others have been isolated cases. Therefore, protection measures continue to be extreme.
Portal Miranda confirmed that the National Health System is in a position to face this disease, and that the diagnostic capacity in Cuba is guaranteed, since the number of more than 1,000 tests carried out in one day has been exceeded.
He asked the entire population to be kept informed by official channels, the daily press conference, the parts issued by the Ministry of Public Health and the official media.
@CubaMINREX