- Title: Havana stirs to life without tourists and amid scarcity
- Date: 3rd July 2020
- Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (JULY 3, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SUNRISE IN HAVANA SEA HAVANA BUILDINGS AND SEA BUS ON STREET WOMAN INSIDE BUS WEARING FACE MASK AND SIGN THAT READS (Spanish) "MANDATORY USE OF FACE MASK" VEHICLES ON STREET AND PEOPLE CROSSING STREET VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GETTING ON BUS PEOPLE WALKING ON HAVANA'S MALECON COASTAL STRIP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT, YAJAIRA PULIDO, SAYING: "It can't be like it was before, lots of people on the streets, the buses. Now they (authorities) are going to have a little more regulation. I am very happy because they have opened, I can go to the beach for a while, go for a walk with the children very carefully, taking the measures that they have recommended." PEOPLE ON BEACH MAN ON SEA WITH A DOG PEOPLE SITTING ON CHAIRS AT THE BEACH FAMILY ON SEA PEOPLE WALKING ON SAND (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT, REY VALDEZ, SAYING: "The Cuban thing is sun, palm trees and beach. And we feel good, this is our thing. The world cannot be paralyzed, everything will be reactivated little by little." PEOPLE IN LINE OUTSIDE SUPERMARKET PEOPLE ARRIVING AT SUPERMARKET VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN LINE WAITING OUTSIDE AT SUPERMARKET
- Embargoed: 17th July 2020 21:03
- Keywords: COVID-19 Cuba Havana coronavirus lockdown reopening
- Location: HAVANA, CUBA
- City: HAVANA, CUBA
- Country: Cuba
- Reuters ID: LVA001CL9BHVR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Cuban capital stirred to life on Friday (July 3) after more than three months of lockdown but there were no signs of tourists on Havana's quiet streets while residents fretted over shortages of food and other basic goods.
The city of 2.2 million people on the Caribbean coast is the last of Cuba's provinces to enter phase one of a three phase process to a new normal. All but one other province began phase two on Friday.
Havana's residents were able once again to use public transportation and private taxis, go to the beach and other outdoor recreation centers, and enjoy the city's famed Malecon seafront drive.
Cuba closed its airports in March and, while some hotels are open at resorts on isolated islets, there is no indication when Havana and other cities might allow foreign visitors to return.
For months, the once bustling capital seemed haunted with little traffic and no night life. Gloomy residents trudged in search of supplies, often waiting for hours to purchase them.
Now they can dine out and have drinks, although social distancing and wearing masks remain mandatory. Optional medical and other services resumed.
Only a handful of COVID-19 cases have been reported this month, all but a few contacts of previously confirmed cases in Havana. Most of the island, home to 11.2 million inhabitants, has been free of the disease for more than a month.
Moraima Cabrera Delgado, owner of the Bom ApetÃte Restaurant, which caters to tourists and locals, said she was preparing to open. Safety measures included a quick test for staff and an electronic menu.
Communist authorities have warned the Caribbean faces a near 10% drop in economic activity and years of crisis.
(Production: Mario Fuentes, Nelson Gonzalez, Anett Rios, Rodrigo Gutierrez, Liamar Ramos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None