Cuba reports 750 new COVID-19 cases

2021-03-06 23:05:22 GMT2021-03-07 07:05:22(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

HAVANA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Cuban health authorities registered on Saturday 750 new cases and three more deaths from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The new cases bring the total caseload to 54,835 and the death toll to 344, according to the national director of hygiene and epidemiology for the Ministry of Public Health, Francisco Duran.

"In the last three days, the number of confirmed cases has been decreasing, but they are still high figures," he said.

Havana, the epicenter of the pandemic in the country, has also seen decreased infections, with 388 new cases in its 15 municipalities and the capital continues to be under curfew, with fines for those not wearing masks.

The third wave of COVID-19 infections that the nation is experiencing has forced the reapplication of restriction measures throughout the country, including the suspension of the school year and the closure of public places, as well as a ban on travelers from certain countries and the mandatory quarantine of all arrivals.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday announced on Twitter that the phase 3 of clinical trials had begun for the vaccine candidate Abdala, one of the five vaccines being developed by Cuban scientists.

The president said the trials will be carried out in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo with the participation of about 42,000 volunteers.

The most advanced vaccine candidate, Soberana 02, began phase 3 trials this week in Havana, while the three other candidates are at various stages of investigation. Enditem

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