Possible Update on Travel to Cuba

[chris12381]

Article dated September 5th in Granma...the Official Body of the Central Committee of the Communist Party in Cuba!

I gave it a rough translation into English, with the link to the original article below.  

Abrirán gradualmente las fronteras de Cuba a partir del 15 de noviembre

Teniendo en cuenta el avance en el proceso de vacunación en Cuba, su efectividad demostrada y la perspectiva de que más del 90 % de toda la población concluirá los calendarios de vacunación en noviembre; se preparan las condiciones para abrir, gradualmente, las fronteras del país a partir del 15 de noviembre de 2021.

Según nota del Ministerio de Turismo enviada a nuestra redacción, se flexibilizarán los protocolos higiénico-sanitarios a la llegada de los viajeros, los cuales estarán centrados en la vigilancia de pacientes sintomáticos y la toma de temperatura. Además, se realizarán pruebas diagnósticas de manera aleatoria, no se exigirá el PCR al arribo y se reconocerá el certificado de vacunación de los viajeros.

También se iniciará la apertura del mercado interno turístico de manera gradual, en correspondencia con los indicadores epidemiológicos de cada territorio.

Cuba to begin gradually opening its borders as of November 15th

Taking into account the advance of the progress of the vaccination in Cuba, its demonstrated effectiveness and the fact that more than 90% of the entire population will conclude the vaccination schedules in November; Conditions are being prepared to gradually open the country's borders as of November 15, 2021.

According to a note from the Ministry of Tourism sent to our newsroom, the hygienic-sanitary protocols will be adjusted for the arrival of travelers.  They will now be focused on monitoring symptomatic patients and taking temperature. In addition, diagnostic tests will be carried out at random, PCR will not be required upon arrival and the travelers' vaccination certificate will be recognized.

The opening of the domestic tourist market will also begin gradually, in correspondence with the epidemiological indicators of each territory.

 

As of today, I don't see any significant flights available from the US to Havana.  However if this change is implimented, especially before the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays...there's gonna be an air bridge.  

[LLC]

I can’t wait to get back but it’s going to take more than an article or their plan to make me pull the trigger. 

[Corylax18]

3 minutes ago, LLC said:

I can’t wait to get back but it’s going to take more than an article or their plan to make me pull the trigger. 

Agreed. Getting there is one thing, getting back is another. 

Apparently they've been filling the airwaves with the news like the pandemic is over. Meanwhile cases continue to rise in Cuba and much of the rest of the world. The government is desperate at this point. They need foreign currency in the worst way. Hopefully the new Sino/Soberana Cocktail works better than they're letting on, otherwise things will continue to get messier.  

[MrBirdman]

Without more information on their vaccine's efficacy against Delta it's hard to know how realistic or safe that date will be. They may partly be counting on foreigners vaccines as much as their own. Obviously some desperation in this move, but and I honestly can't imagine strong travel demand until people are more confident the virus is under control.

[Fuzz]

4 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

Hopefully the new Sino/Soberana Cocktail works better than they're letting on, otherwise things will continue to get messier.  

They need to add a dash of Santiago 12yr old to the vaccine.

[Nino]

While the Cuban gvt dreams about "re-opening", Panama ( which receives a high number of Cuban "mules" ) declares Cuba "High Risk Area" and imposes tough measures on travel from Cuba ..

Panama puts Cuba on its list of epidemiological 'high risk' countries
Copa Airlines establishes new conditions of access to the country for passengers from the Island.

https://diariodecuba.com/cuba/1630953900_33909.html

Panama included Cuba in a list of 20 countries considered epidemiological "high risk" due to the high transmission of Covid-19 and the circulation of potentially dangerous variants of the virus, which implies more rigorous control measures for travelers from those destinations .

Through Resolution No. 2294 promulgated on August 30, the Public Health Directorate of Panama took into account "the parameters issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "of the United States to issue its recommendations.

[Ryan]

Talking to some Cuban friends yesterday. They say that starting on October 1st, the 9pm - 5am curfew will be lifted. Bars and private businesses open with 50% capacity. Interstate travel open with some restrictions for buses and cars. Beaches and pools open with 30% capacity.

They are not too happy that from November 15th, no PCR test required for travel to Cuba. That does seem like an odd decision to me.

[Nino]

5 hours ago, Ryan said:

They are not too happy that from November 15th, no PCR test required for travel to Cuba. That does seem like an odd decision to me.

Spoke to 2 Cuban friends today and same response here - they remember how the lifting of restrictions and re-opening last Nov. 15th caused the big surge ... not happy.

[gustavehenne]

There were £400 quid return tickets out to Cuba from London in Q1 next year - seriously considering pulling the trigger. Amazing place but indeed, a bit of a gamble

[NSXCIGAR]

22 hours ago, Nino said:

Panama puts Cuba on its list of epidemiological 'high risk' countries

They also put Israel on the list--possibly the most vaccinated country. And the US. Not sure how they're determining "high risk". 

15 hours ago, Nino said:

Spoke to 2 Cuban friends today and same response here - they remember how the lifting of restrictions and re-opening last Nov. 15th caused the big surge ... not happy.

Well, nobody was vaccinated in Nov 20 so hopefully it's different this time around.