Some 126 Dominicans living in Cuba, including dozens who were doing their masters and medical specialties in Cuba returned to the country on Tuesday in four separate flights. The medics returned on two chartered private flights. The first two to arrive were Helidosa flights. The company is owned by former Minister of Public Works, today ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) presidential candidate, Gonzalo Castillo.
Altagracia Salazar reported that also on those flights came the daughter of the president of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Temístocles Montás and a niece of President Danilo Medina. Also several children.
The flights were reportedly chartered by presidential candidate Gonzalo Castillo. The other two flights were chartered from Air Century. The flights landed at the La Isabela International Airport in northern Santo Domingo.
Upon arrival spokespersons for the students said that none had symptoms of Covid-19. It is not clear if and where the arrivals are quarantined.
The first student arrivals expressed their appreciation to Castillo for coordinating their flights at a time when Cuba had announced the closing of all flights. The students explained classes were shut down in Cuba as of Monday and were in quarantine as most of the Cuban population.
Cuba announced on Monday, 23 March that as of Tuesday, 24 March it was sealing its borders to guard against the spread of Covid-19. The measure affects all tourists and foreigners that are in Cuba. Until Monday, Cuba had skirted the regional moves to close airports to travel. As of Monday, 23 March, Cuba had 40 cases of Covid-19, including that of one aging Italian tourist.
Cuba is now following the regional trend to gradually implement restrictive quarantines to stem the spreading of the disease.
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25 March 2020