Government of Cuba postpones payment of electricity, water and gas bills due to coronavirus

HePrime Minister of Cuba, Manuel Marrero, announced this Wednesday another package of measures amid the advance of thecoronavirus.

In this sense, he said that the charging for electricity, water and gas services is "eliminated" for the moment, except for those that can be made electronically. That is, these offices serving the population are closed.

He also explained that "monthly billing will be maintained and with the same rates that are in force." The deferral of these payments will not entail any penalty or interruption of services.

When they resume, users are required to go to the offices to pay the corresponding amount.

In addition, the collection of fines in the offices established for this purpose is temporarily suspended. In the case of those that have already been imposed, the expiration period will be extended.

Due to the pandemic, the established surcharges will not be applied when the fine is not paid within the established period.

Marrero also urged the population to save on electricity consumption. "In the social sector we are consuming the equivalent of the month of August. We have maintained the practice of not having planned blackouts," he stated.

The prime minister reiterated that they continue to identify other activities and services that can be suspended or reduced to achieve greater social isolation.

He also ratified the measure, which he already announced on Tuesday, to suspend services in restaurants and cafes, in which only the sale of take-out food and home delivery will be maintained, during limited hours.

In this sense, he insisted that alcoholic beverages will not be sold, so the bar services are closed. These types of products will only be sold in stores.

Phase of "limited indigenous transmission of coronavirus"

On Tuesday he already announcednew measures after Cuba entered the "limited indigenous transmission" phase of the coronavirus.

HeMinister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, reported that this phase is declared "when cases are confirmed in which it has not been possible to establish a link with travelers from affected areas and they are limited to small conglomerates in localities or institutions in the country."

In the latest report, the health authorities detailed that 61 new infections were registered, bringing the total to 457.

It was also known that a 62-year-old woman lost her life due to the virus and there are already 12 deaths so far. In addition, 10 patients are reported to be in critical condition and six in serious condition.

TheCuban authorities isolated four blocks in the Cerro municipality, in Havana, due to coronavirus outbreak. The four blocks are located between Buenos Aires, Agua Dulce, Diana, Carvajal, Serafines, Alejandro Ramírez and Flores streets.

Yadira Olivera Nodarse, director of the Provincial Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology of Havana, explained that the capital of the Island (epicenter of the pandemic in Cuba) accumulates 123 cases with the last date of onset of symptoms being April 2. This figure represents an incidence rate of 5.71 per 100 thousand inhabitants.

Given the epidemiological situation in the country, the Government of Cuba isolated several communities in recent days due to the growing number of positive and suspected cases of the disease. An example was thequarantine that was declared in the El Carmelo neighborhood, in Havana, last week.