A mandatory negative test to travel to Cuba

Travellers wishing to travel to Cuba will have to present a negative COVID-19 screening test dated less than 72 hours from January 10, the official newspaper Granma announced Friday. 

"Starting January 10, all travelers arriving in the country will have to be in possession of a screening test performed no more than 72 hours before in certified laboratories in the country of origin," Granma said.

On Thursday, the island recorded a record 217 cases of COVID-19, 101 of which were imported, "the highest number of contaminations since the beginning of the pandemic", according to the newspaper of the ruling Cuban Communist Party (PCC).

This new measure is being taken in order to deal with the "cases caused mainly by Cubans from abroad", the newspaper stressed.

"Some days, we have had more imported cases than local cases", the head of epidemiology at the Cuban Ministry of Health, Francisco Durán, told the press.

In the last fifteen days, 1311 cases have been registered in Cuba, of which 838 were imported, mainly from the United States, Russia, India, Venezuela and France, according to the official.

"There is no doubt that this measure will have its impact", he assured.

All travelers must currently undergo a screening test upon arrival in Cuba and then limit their travel while waiting for the result, and this will always be the case, said Durán.

Cuba can boast of having controlled the epidemic on its soil, with 10,900 cases, including 140 deaths for 11.2 million inhabitants, very low figures compared to its neighbors.