All have been placed under clinical and epidemiological observation to determine their condition if symptoms should appear. If any suspicious symptoms are noted over the next few days, testing of nasopharyngeal swab samples will be conducted and if confirmed as positive for the coronavirus, patients will be transferred to the Villa Clara Military Hospital, as established in the Plan for the Prevention and Control of Covid-19.
Established epidemiological procedures are being followed for individuals who were in contact with the three Italian tourists in Trinidad confirmed as the first cases of Covid-19 in Cuba.
According to Dr. Manuel Rivero Abella, provincial director of health in Sancti Spíritus, the seven persons in direct contact with the tourists – including their car driver, a tour operator and five in the hostel where they stayed – are currently asymptomatic, but are being transferred to the Doctor Faustino Pérez Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital, the center designated for the isolation of suspected Covid-19 cases in the province.
“They have all been placed under clinical and epidemiological surveillance to see if symptoms appear. In the event that, over the next few days, they exhibit any clinical symptoms, they will be swabbed and if confirmed positive, will be transferred to the Villa Clara Military Hospital, as established in the Plan for the Prevention and Control of Covid-19,” Dr. Rivero stated.
According to the doctor, if the contacts remain without clinical symptoms, they will return to their homes, where they will be closely monitored by epidemiologists and the community health care team.
Of the four Italian tourists who arrived in Cuba March 9, and in Trinidad the next day, three were confirmed positive for Covid-19 and to date, according to the Ministry of Public Health, their condition is not life-threatening.
A provincial strategy for treating suspicious cases of the virus was designed over the last few weeks, and has been implemented, including the establishment of specialized departments in all health institutions and the preparation of 42 beds in hospital isolation wards.
(Source: Granma)