Cuba to Mark Homes of Covid-19 Isolated
By Circles Robinson
HAVANA TIMES – The Cuban government announced today that it will begin marking the homes of people in isolation for Covid-19. The drastic action is to prevent the spread to healthy people, noted President Diaz-Canel.
The Civil Defense authorities and the Communist Party’s mass organizations were told to “Establish the marking of homes and institutions where there are people in isolation.” The order was reported on the official government websites and TV.
Critics say the measure is a reminder of the marking of Jewish peoples’ homes in Nazi Germany. Venezuela, Cuba’s key ally, also announced the marking of Covid-19 patients’ homes, “for the good of the people”, reported El Nacional.
In Nicaragua, another close ally of Cuba, the marking of homes with the word “plomo” (lead for bullets), is often done by Ortega paramilitary against opposition activists and families of current and released political prisoners.
The state of tourism and vaccines
The island’s leaders are faced with a huge uptick of positive cases in the last three months. The crisis came after virtually claiming victory in their prevention efforts. They still record a relatively low official fatality statistic, and note that things are far worse in the United States.
The government reopened the country to tourism for a short while at the end of 2020 but then had to backtrack and suspend most flights in early 2021. Today, thousands of Russian sun and sea tourists are being allowed to come and be isolated at select resorts on the northern Keys.
Cuba also has five locally produced vaccines in different trial phases, with tens of thousands of volunteers. None of these vaccines are fully tested at this point. If proven effective, the government hopes to mass produce them for domestic use and sales abroad. They would also be offered to tourists.
Hey Moses, Yes Cuban developed vaccines! Cuba produces 80% of all of their vaccines. Only 20% are imported. Cuban doctors are some of the best, because they have to train in the worst and still save lives. I’d take a Cuban vaccine before any of the others being offered.
Raul, The two close allies both writing on the outside walls of private homes to stigmatize people against their will. Both would say they do it to “protect the people”. Do you know other countries that are doing that, besides Venezuela?
This seems extremely irrelevant to this story : “ In Nicaragua, another close ally of Cuba, the marking of homes with the word “plomo” (lead for bullets), is often done by Ortega paramilitary against opposition activists and families of current and released political prisoners.”
Totalitarian governments are oddly more efficient during public health crisis. Of course, this efficiency usually comes at a high price. Personal liberty is the primary casualty. Once the public health crisis has been averted or survived, recovering these lost liberties is also a risk. By the way, Cuban-developed vaccines? Probably not. More likely, Cuban intelligence services will simply steal the formulas from proven laboratories abroad and simply remanufacture the vaccines in Cuba.