Reopening in Cuba: Havanians Back to Beaches and Havana’s Malecón

Reopening in Cuba: Havanians Back to Beaches and Havana’s Malecón
Fecha de publicación: 
30 September 2021
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The Temporary Work Group created to face Covid-19 in Havana, after consultation with its national counterpart, announced on Wednesday, September 29th, the easing of some restrictions related to the pandemic with regard to entertainment and physical exercises by “taking into account the sustained decrease in confirmed cases of the disease in the last eight weeks and the progress of the vaccination campaign.”

The city’s mayor, Reinaldo García Zapata, pointed out that from this Wednesday on, it is possible “to carry out physical exercises on public roads and in gyms, including places that have artificial ventilation.”

The latter “must strictly comply with the sanitary protocols that stipulate adequate physical distancing and disinfection of the equipment each time it is finished using by a person, which will be verified by the provincial inspection bodies and control”.

It has also been allowed to stay in the Malecón areas, as long as the sanitary measures are complied with to avoid contagion, as well as the opening of beaches and swimming pools, “the latter at 50% of their capacity.”

In the case of the beaches it was warned that due to the economic situation, backup buses will not be enabled. The authorities suggested that people who decide to attend “should do so in an orderly manner and in compliance with epidemiological regulations.”

Likewise, it was announced “that there are no conditions to ensure adequate gastronomic service in public spas, so the population must guarantee food by their own means.”

They warned at the meeting that “both in the pools and in the beach areas the use of the facemasks is mandatory, except when bathers go into the sea.”

García Zapata also stated that the vaccination with at least one dose of 90% of Havanians —70% of the total population in Havana has been already vaccinated with three doses— as well as the decrease of the prevalence rate in the last few weeks favor the easing of restrictions, but he once again appealed to self-responsibility and self-care of individuals to preserve their health and that of relatives.

Meanwhile, the first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in Havana, Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar, said that with this easing and others to come —feasible in the right time— and urged the people of Havana to show an “attitude that corresponds to the health culture acquired in these months”.

The also member of the Central Committee of the PCC gave proper directions to the Control and Supervision Bodies as well as the National Revolutionary Police Department to increase supervision in the areas of the Havana’s Malecón, the beach areas and gyms to ensure compliance with health protocols.

Similar actions will extend to the state-run and private eateries to prevent indiscipline such as the ones occurred last weekend at the boardwalk located in 1st and 70th Streets, in the municipality of Playa, where some of the provisions laid down since September 24th were violated.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff

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