"Although a considerable part of people who test positive for COVID-19 are asymptomatic carriers, checkpoints are fundamental to reducing transmission of the virus," said Ernudis Cartada.
Havana,
Ibrahim Lopez, a Cuban public transport officer, starts working early in the morning at a COVID-19 checkpoint on the Havana-Mayabeque border. As the island nation strives to keep the COVID-19 pandemic at bay amid spiking infection rates, the local government in Havana has continued reinforcing regulations on inbound and outbound traffic over the weekend.
Donning a N95 mask, Lopez applies hand sanitizer or hypochlorite disinfectant solutions after interacting with coach drivers, motorists and commuters. "I usually stop at least 150 vehicles between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. It is a huge but essential task," he said. "I am doing my part."
Ernudis Cartada, a 40-year-old doctor from Havana's Cotorro district, conducts temperature checks and tries to detect COVID-19 symptoms among people entering the Cuban capital.
"Although a considerable part of people who test positive for COVID-19 are asymptomatic carriers, checkpoints are fundamental to reducing transmission of the virus," he said.
People allowed to pass through the checkpoints are advised to follow cleaning and disinfecting protocols while staying in the country's most populous city.
Among them is Yordany Ramirez, a 36-year-old truck driver from the central province of Villa Clara, who transports vegetables and other produce to a farmers' market in Havana.
"I want to come back home safe and sound," he said. "COVID-19 checkpoints very much help prevent transmission of the virus nationwide."
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