Source::Xinhuanet
HAVANA
Local government in Havana announced new restrictive measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as 550 new cases were logged nationwide on Wednesday, setting a new daily record for the sixth day in a row.
These restrictions are introduced as the country's capital is experiencing its sharpest rise in infections since the first three COVID-19 cases were reported on the island in March 2020.
Under the new rules, schools across the Cuban capital will be closed starting Jan. 14 while thousands of students will take televised lessons broadcast on Canal Havana, the local TV channel.
Diego Santiago Delbert, a 9-year-old boy from Havana's Camilo Cienfuegos district, enjoys attending school, but he said it is necessary to stay at home until things get better.
"I really prefer in-person classes, but I understand that it is not possible at the moment," he told Xinhua via phone. "The virus will not stick around forever."
In addition, public transport across the city's metropolitan area will be suspended from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. in a bid to slow the movement of people during night hours.
Yamila Rodriguez, a 36-year-old mother living in central Havana, said these measures will contribute to addressing the health emergency in the country's most populous city.
"I have decided to stockpile for this period, so that I would not have to venture out," she said. "It is the moment to stay local."
New measures also include reinforcement of checkpoints on borders between the capital and the rest of the island as of Friday, while cargo trucks transporting food will still be permitted to enter Havana.
AlSO READ
