Pinar del Rio and the Covid-19 Surge

Consolacion del Sur in lockdown and Puerta de Golpe on “standby”

By Pedro Pablo Morejón

HAVANA TIMES – Ever since it was announced that Pinar del Rio was in the limited community transmission phase, the number of COVID-19 cases already stands at over 400. Consolacion del Sur appears to be the hardest hit, accounting for over 100 cases in the past 15 days, according to daily reports published in Guerrillero magazine, the province’s official press.

In late October, the municipality’s Defense Council declared a lockdown for residents living in the provincial capital, blocking entry roads; yet, the number of new COVID-19 cases doesn’t seem to be grinding to a halt, making the epidemiological situation worse in the area.

They also announced that they would administer PCR tests for all residents, approximately 20,000, which still hasn’t been done yet.

Add to this the strict restrictions on freedom of movement and residents have found their social lives turned upside down, as they are only allowed to go out and look for the food they need. In simpler terms, they are going hungry.

Even greater shortages of food

I have spoken to people living in Consolacion over the phone, and they complain about shortages, that have only got worse with this pandemic. Some people, who rear pigs or other animals, have been forcced to sacrifice them ahead of time in order to get by in these trying times. Others, i.e. the majority, haven’t been so lucky.

A few days ago, I was walking along the highway, near the entrance on 51st street, and watched how some people tried to send food to their relatives.

This is how tough our reality is right now, and if it weren’t for geographical details, I would think that we were living under the Nazi siege of St. Petersberg during almost three years of World War 2.

Making matters worse, Puerta de Golpe – the town where I live – located 8 kms away from Consolacion del Sur, has reported its first case, which was recorded as “imported”. It was a man from here, who had been living in Havana for a few months, but he had been in contact with lots of people recently, which has frightened everyone, in a place where not a single case had been reported ever since all this madness began.

Several people have done a PCR test, but the results haven’t been given back yet, which is something that is happening with every suspected case in the province, leading to great uncertainty.

Word has it that if 5 cases are confirmed, the town will also go into lockdown. All we can do is wait and see.

Read more here of Pedro Pablo Morejón diary.