New provisions (04/05/2022):
• Eliminate as a requirement to enter the country the presentation of a test for COVID-19 (antigen test or PCR-RT) performed in the country of origin, as well as the anti-COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
• The collection of samples for the study of SARS CoV-2 (free of charge) will be in force randomly from travelers at the points of entry to the country, taking into account the number of flights, the entry of vessels and the epidemiological risk that the country of origin represents.
• If the sample taken at the point of entry results positive, it will proceed according to the protocols approved in the country for the clinical-epidemiological control of COVID-19.
• All flows and measures implemented at all points of entry the country that guarantee social distancing and the disinfection of hands and surfaces are in force.
• The mandatory use of the mask is in force at all points of entry into the country.
Measures within the country:
– Any traveler who arrives in Cuba and tests positive for COVID-19 will be admitted to the Health institutions designated for this purpose in each territory.
– All direct contacts of these travelers will be isolated in designated centers in each territory, or at home, provided that the necessary conditions exist and the compliance with this measure is guaranteed.
– Confirmed autochthonous cases that are at risk, or the severity of their condition requires so, will be admitted to health institutions designated for this purpose. The rest may be admitted to their home in accordance with the conditions of each territory.
– Direct contacts of confirmed autochthonous cases will be isolated in their homes and if necessary they will do so institutionally, for eight days.
– Confirmed pregnant women and children under the age of ten will be isolated in the health institutions designated for this purpose.
– The study of the first-order of contacts of the confirmed cases will be carried out at the moment their contact status is known.
– To identify suspected cases, the investigation of the population will be reorganized in all territories, prioritizing the areas of greatest risk.
– All the territories in the country will send the identified positive samples selected for sequencing to the national reference laboratory at “Pedro Kourí” Institute of Tropical Medicine.
– Accelerate the application of booster doses throughout the country, in correspondence with the existing availability of vaccines.
Travel measures that significantly interfere with international traffic are justified at the start of an outbreak as they can buy countries time, even just a few days, to rapidly implement effective preparedness measures. Such restrictions should be based on careful risk assessment, be proportionate to the risk to public health, be of short duration, and be reconsidered periodically as the situation evolves.
Temperature screening at exit or entry, alone, is not an effective way to stop international spread, as infected persons may be incubating, may not show apparent symptoms at the onset of illness, or may disguise fever by using antipyretics.
Health professionals and public health authorities should provide travelers with information to reduce the general risk of acute respiratory infections, through travel health clinics, travel agencies, and transport operators and at points of entry to the country.
On-Board Procedures
If a traveler on board an aircraft or ship has signs and symptoms indicative of acute respiratory infections, the model maritime health declaration (Annex 8 of the IHR) or the health part of the general declaration of the aircraft (Annex 9 of the IHR), will be used to record health information on board and send it to the health authorities of the POE when required.
Cabin crew must follow the operating procedures recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regarding the management of suspected communicable diseases on board an aircraft.
See you in Varadero, 1 to 3 June 2022!
