The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the eastern Cuban province of Las Tunas will emphasize epidemiological surveillance in the neighborhoods, in which Primary Health Care operates. This was announced by the Temporary Government Group for the confrontation and prevention of this disease in its daily contact here.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- While noting that it must continue to insist on compliance with the measures of physical distancing and hygiene of hands and surfaces within the production and service units (state or not), the management body indicated to the authorities, especially in the provincial capital, to expand epidemiological surveillance in the neighborhoods. "Our perception is that, in the community, there is less perception of risk," Manuel Pérez Gallego, first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party in the province, said. This situation, he warned, could aggravate the local epidemiological panorama.

Consequently, it was learned that, in the coming days, the constituency delegates will be full-time where their constituents reside to reactivate the working groups created to face the pandemic, among other tasks.

In recent weeks, each new confirmed case generates about 13 contacts, the majority among people who live with them, Dr. Aldo Cortés, deputy director of the Provincial Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology, said. The expert added that for the previous 15 days, half of all the health areas have an incidence rate of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants that exceeds the provincial average. Also, he said that in 20 of the 51 current active transmission foci, an average of two more positives has been detected from the index patient. "We are concerned that the contagion is occurring from the community to the workplace and vice versa," he said.

Las Tunas began the week with a cumulative of more than 900 positive cases, of which the majority has been detected in the provincial capital. Although the figures for the Balcón del Oriente Cubano (Cuban Eastern Balcony) continue to be comparatively better than those of other territories, it has not been exempt from the rebound of the disease that the country has suffered since the end of last year.