Dr. María Guadalupe Guzmán, a researcher of the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine ​​​​​​, made the announcement

Havana, January 22 (RHC)-- Cuban health authorities informed Friday that the South African COVID-19 strain was detected in Cuba in an asymptomatic international traveler.

Dr. María Guadalupe Guzmán, a researcher of the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK), explained in the daily press conference to update Cuba's epidemiological situation, that when the sample was analyzed,  it was determined that it complies with the mutations described for this strain.

We cannot say that it has become established in the country, but it is a feasible fact that cannot be ruled out.

Dr. Guzman added that both the South African and the United Kingdom strains, variants recently identified globally, could have already entered the country, but it takes some time to determine.

Concerning the doubts the population has raised as to whether this strain could be responsible for the rise in the number of positive cases in recent weeks, she stated that this is not due to the introduction of the strain, but to the fact that the established hygienic-sanitary measures have not been complied with, because if it had been introduced and the measures had been complied with, it would have been possible to cut off that transmission.

Strain or no strain, Dr. Guzman warned, what will stop the spread of the infection is the individual's responsibility and the precautions observed by family, colleagues, and the population in general.