The Cuba Reader

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How is Cuba coping with COVID-19?

Robert Carroll

This week, The Cuba Reader remembers George Floyd and stands in solidarity with all those who seek a world of justice, equality and humanity.


Dear readers,

Cuba stands out among the world’s nations scrambling to manage their domestic COVID-19 outbreaks. Not only has the island nation performed better than others on coronavirus cases and deaths, Cuba has simultaneously ramped up its program of exporting doctors to other countries to aid in their pandemic response.

Despite this good news, Cubans are suffering more than usual under the weight of poor economic conditions. Struggling with their own crises, Cuba’s allies aren’t showing up to help.

Let’s take a look at what this all means in context.

What do the numbers say?

Through social distancing, contact tracing and widely available medical services, Cuba has been able to flatten the curve of national COVID-19 deaths. This week’s reports indicate that Cuba has sustained several days in a row of zero deaths. In terms of confirmed deaths, here is how Cuba stacks up against the U.S., its neighbor to the north, and the Dominican Republic, its more demographically similar neighbor to the east. Notice that the data is plotted on a log scale because the figures are so drastically different.

Now let’s adjust for population size. Per million people, Cuba has seen far fewer deaths relative to both the United States and the Dominican Republic. I threw in Brazil to show how a much larger Latin American country is coping with the pandemic. This data is plotted on a linear scale because the figures aren’t quite so drastically different, although you’ll see how many fewer deaths per million people Cubans are experiencing.

How reliable is the data?

From the earliest signs of the virus’ spread in Cuba, the government sent thousands of young people – predominantly medical students – door to door to survey the health conditions of individuals. Cubans were getting one visit a day in which they were asked about medical conditions, measured for their temperature, and instructed how to recognize symptoms.

Although now less frequent, these door to door visits have grown to include exhaustive contact tracing questions. This type of national program is only possible in a place like Cuba, where the government can mandate widespread compliance.

The Cuban government is not known for transparency, so it’s natural to question the validity of the data it reports. However, more than one expert I spoke to said the reports were likely accurate. Many Cubans are skeptical of their government, but on this issue, they seem to believe what they’re hearing. Out of all the things we can expect Cuba do well, it’s healthcare.

What is the pandemic like for Cubans?

Despite the positive news on Cuba’s crisis management, the picture for regular Cubans is decidedly more bleak.

  • While medical care is freely available, the conditions for doctors and patients are poor. Doctors have limited supplies and patients are largely sharing rooms without air conditioning.

  • Basic human rights – already ignored on issues like freedom of speech – have been further flouted in the name of flattening the curve. Masks are required for Cubans whenever they are outside of their homes, and the government has made a point to arrest and imprison those who are not complying. State media has made an example of perpetrators by broadcasting their court sentencings, which can include up to one year in prison.

  • Quality of life is dismal. Before COVID-19 started spreading on the island, Cubans were already struggling. Beset with electricity blackouts, fuel scarcity and food shortages, long lines for necessities continue to be fixtures of everyday life.

Why send doctors overseas?

Cuba has one of the highest rates of doctors per capita in the world. For decades, the Cuban government has sent doctors to other countries to aid in crisis response, provide service to rural communities, or simply become part of the host country’s healthcare industry. Cuba usually charges fees for these doctors, but sometimes they get creative: medical services may be part of a debt repayment package or in the case of the Cuba-Venezuela relationships, doctors are traded for much-needed oil.

Italy and several other countries have benefitted from Cuba’s medical aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Cuba has gained international goodwill for its generosity. Unfortunately for regular Cubans, the global attention has not resulted in local support. Revenue from international medical aid may be up, but the pandemic has all but killed the tourism industry, an enormous piece of Cuban GDP.

-Robert



What’s in the news

Yesterday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added seven Cuban companies and hotels to the U.S. list of restricted entities. One of these companies is Fincimex, a remittance service that helps Americans send cash to their Cuban friends or relatives via Western Union. Pompeo claims the new restrictions are supposed to restrain the Cuban government and further help Cubans, but most people believe that this move will directly harm Cubans who rely on remittances.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez responded on twitter:

I strongly reject the sanctions announced by #US Secretary of State Pompeo against 7 #Cuban entities, aimed at harming Cuban families. Tightening the blockade during #COVID19 is both shameful and criminal. (link)



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